North Model 1819 Pistol
Simeon North · Pistol · Discontinued · 1819
Also known as: U.S. Model 1819 Flintlock Pistol, S. North Model 1819, Model 1819 Army-Navy Pistol
Overview
The North Model 1819 Pistol is a .54 caliber single-shot smoothbore flintlock martial pistol manufactured by Simeon North of Middletown, Connecticut, under United States government contract. It features a 10-inch round barrel, a full walnut stock, and all-iron mounts including a large skull-crusher butt cap, iron trigger guard, side plate and barrel band. The Model 1819 introduced the swivel-style captured steel ramrod to American arms, a design that could not be easily lost during a cavalry charge, along with a half-cock safety on the lock and a blade front sight with an oval concave rear sight on the breechplug tang. It served as an early standard-issue sidearm for U.S. Army cavalry and Navy personnel.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1400 g (49.4 oz) |
| Overall Length | 394 mm (15.51") |
| Barrel Length | 254 mm (10.00") |
| Action Type | Muzzleloader |
| Firing Mechanism | Flintlock |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Muzzle Velocity | 250 m/s (820 fps) |
| Effective Range | 20 m (22 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Smoothbore |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Bright |
Calibers
- .54 Caliber Ball · primary — also known as 54 cal round ball, 13.7mm ball
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Muzzle Loaded
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock
- Features: Single Shot, Swivel Ramrod, Captured Ramrod, Iron Furniture, Barrel Band, Skull Crusher Butt Cap, Blade Front Sight
Service history
Operators
- United States Army · adopted 1819 · as Model 1819
- United States Navy
Production
Estimated total produced: 20,400 · Production years: 1819-1823
20,000 made under the 1819 contract for 10,000 pairs plus a 400-pistol supplementary order in 1823.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Simeon North
Discontinued: 1823
Notes
Simeon North produced approximately 20,400 Model 1819 pistols between 1819 and 1823: 20,000 under an 1819 contract for 10,000 pairs (cavalry carried two pistols in saddle holsters) plus a supplementary order of 400 in 1823. Many surviving examples were later converted from flintlock to percussion ignition.
Background
The Model 1819 is credited as the first American service arm to use the swivel steel ramrod, permanently attached so cavalry troopers could not drop it while reloading on horseback. Simeon North was one of the earliest American arms makers to pursue interchangeable parts under his long series of U.S. War Department contracts.