This video delves into the history and significance of the North & Cheney Model 1799, America's first contract pistol. Procured using a substantial government allocation in 1798, these .69 caliber flintlock pistols were contracted entirely from Simeon North, a departure from previous government-provided assembly. Based on the French model 1777 with a slightly longer barrel, these distinctive pistols featured a brass frame and lacked a wooden front handguard. The video highlights the initial contract for 500 units and a subsequent expansion to 2,000, all delivered by 1802. The rarity of surviving examples, estimated at around 20, makes this a highly sought-after piece of early American martial history and a testament to North's burgeoning arms-making legacy.
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