This exact pistol is shown on page 9 of "U.S. Martial Single Shot Pistols" by Hartlzler and Whisker. Robert M. Reilly discusses these pistols in detail and has an illustration on pages 164 and 165 of his book "United States Martial Flintlocks" and states: "The 1798 date of parts issuance to McCormick, and the 1799 delivery dates establish these as being among the earliest known pistols ever delivered officially to the U.S. government, and while they were not actually manufactured, they must be regarded as the first type of U.S. martial handgun." The Smithsonian National Museum of American History has one of McCormick's "Ship" pistols and notes: "Robert McCormick was an Irishman who came to America and leased the Globe Mills in 1798 to produce firearms. He was contracted by the U.S. government for Muskets that same year. In 1799, he had another contract, but did not finish it because he was thrown in debtor’s prison in 1801. That contract was finished by an employee named James Haslett - who would move on to run the Virginia Manufactory." Very similar pistols from this contract are pictured and discussed on pages 88-93 of "Historic Pistols: the American Martial Flintlock, 1760-1845" by Samuel E. Smith and Edwin W. Bitter. Note that there is some minor variance between the examples, but our current piece has the same basic markings and features as the pictured examples. Only approximately 98 of these "Horseman" pistols are believed to have been delivered to the Schuylkill Arsenal in Philadelphia by Robert McCormick on August 6 and 10, 1799. Others were delivered by Thomas Annely and John Miles in 1797. Possibly as few as ten survive today. The delivery of these pistols in 1797 and 1799 makes them the first U.S. martial pistols contracted for the U.S. government and predate the delivery of the famous North & Cheney Model 1799 pistols (first contracted for in March 1799). These pistols were assembled by McCormick, Annely, and Miles from existing stocks of components in the Schuylkill Arsenal storeroom. Of additional significant historical interest is the fact that Captain Meriwether Lewis received "1P[air] Horsemans Pistols" from the Schuylkill Arsenal in May 1803. This pair is generally assumed to have been either this pattern or the North & Cheney Model 1799. In "Weapons of the Lewis and Clark Expedition" by James B. Garry, the author notes they could have also possibly an older pistol in the inventory such as the French pistols used during the American Revolution, but it seems likely that Lewis would have chosen something more recently constructed than a worn out pistol over a quarter of a century old. Lewis used one of these pistols on July 27, 1806, during the expedition against one of the Piegan Blackfeet. He wrote: "I jumped up and asked what was the matter which I quickly learned when I saw drewyer in a scuffle with the Indian for his gun. I reached to seize my gun but found her gone, I then drew a pistol from my holster..." He then chased the Blackfoot approximately 300 yards and fired at with his pistol while the man was trying to drive off the horses and struck him. The hit was not immediately lethal, and the Blackfoot returned fire narrowly missing Lewis. The man reportedly later died of his wounds. This violent exchange is important as they were the only shots exchanged between the Corps of Discovery and native tribes during the expedition. The fact that one of these McCormick "Horseman" pistols may have been used of course of particular interest to collectors. On another related somber note, Lewis died of gunshots to the head and the body and possibly a slit throat on the night of October 10-11, 1809, at Grinder's Stand along the Natchez Trace. It has never been entirely clear if he was murdered or committed suicide with his own pistols in response to depression or malaria. The smoothbore barrel has "US" and an "eagle/P" proof at the breech. The same "US" marking and proof are clearly visible on the ship pistol manufactured in the same period on page 96 of "Historic Pistols." The lock is signed "Ketland/& Co." at the center and has "UNITED/STATES" vertically at the tail which matches both the McCormick "Horseman" and "Ship" pistols. The inside has a "V" or inverted "A" stamped over an "R" behind the pan and an "R" at the center above the mainspring. The stock has a brass band near the forend tip, "US" horizontally and "MCCORMICK" vertically on the left flat, and a smooth oil finish. Other examples generally have a "V" in place of the "US" on the left flat. The furniture is all plain brass and matches the basic design of the examples in "Historic Pistols."

Good with replaced cock and frizzen. Gray and brown patina visible on the iron parts, smooth aged patina on the brass, some vice marks visible on the breech end of the barrel, and generally distinct markings. The stock has a smooth oiled finish, a repaired break in the wrist, some minor splits in the forend, slightly loose lock mortise, and mild scrapes and dings. Mechanically fine.