Pederosli US ARMY Commemorative Harpers Ferry

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scuba_ed1911

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About 20 years ago I purchased a .58 call Harpers Ferry 1807 flintlock pistol marked as above on the top of the chromed barrel. Barrel is in the bright, and all furniture, from the pommel to the tulip-style tip of the ram rod is German silver. 20190413_170719.jpg

Does anyone know of this firearm?
 
Pedersoli has made various of their reproductions in "Deluxe" versions.
They don't currently show a Deluxe Harper's Ferry, but I think that is what you have from 20 years ago.
 
I want to agree with Jim Watson that it looks like a special production gun, but how can we be sure?
I'm always interested to know about a gun's proof date code.
I realize that you said that you bought it about 20 years ago, but when was it made?
What's the proof date code, 2 letters inside of a box?
If you bought it new, which vendor sold it to you?
Is it possible that someone had it chrome plated or electroless nickeled, or could some of it be stainless?

Usually where there's one production model, there will be more.
But they're not always easy to find or learn about.

Without more to go on about who imported it, and possibly asking them for info., I wonder if Pedersoli
could provide information if they were given the serial number, date code, and sent a photo by email.

Back in the days when Navy Arms was a big importer of Pedersoli guns, the owner of the outfit named Flintlocks Etc...
in Richmond, MA was a primary Pedersoli import agent for them.
I think that his son runs the company now, and perhaps an email inquiry to him may provide some clues.

If it's German silver and not plated, and it's factory production, then someone "somewhere" should remember details about it.

But I also want to know why you described the barrel as chromed?
Could it simply be a high polished finish that someone performed on a kit?
The finish in the photos of many surfaces does look uniformly matte.


The pistol in this link was mirror polished with Mother's Mag & Wheel Polish yet is looks like chrome or stainless.--->>> https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/lyman-pistol-kit-finally-finished.752430/#post-9477687

I wish that we could see more close up photos of the various metal surfaces such as the frizzen face.
For instance the color match between the barrel, ramrod ferrule and under-rib look perfect much like electroless nickel.
Do the surface colors match across the whole gun?
I would certainly appreciate knowing more details and seeing close-up photos of such a fine looking gun to more closely compare the surface colors and finish.
I can't see the ramrod entry pipe very well either.
It's a real beauty and Jim Watson could very well be correct about it being a factory production.
But even if factory made, what kind of finish and/or steel is it?
Is it rough or textured at all?
A slippery matte finish suggests electroless nickel and not chrome, but who knows?
 
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My guess is that it's a commemorative edition, from the factory. Since it's marked "U.S. Army," I would think that the issue date would be some important anniversary concerning the Army. That could be as early as 1975 (200 years from the forming of the Continental Army). There is a host of other possible dates, such as 1989 (200 years from when the Army was established under the new Constitution), 1992 (the founding of the Legion of the United States), or 1996 (the Legion being redesignated as the United States Army). The birthday of the Military Police Corps is another possibility (since this pistol is on the Military Police insignia) but the Corps wasn't founded until 1941.
 
20190424_140151_002.jpg I bought this from Dixie Gun Works, but they have no info of it after all these years
Attached are a few more images.
 
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20190424_135624_001.jpg I bought this from Dixie Gun Works, but they have no info of it after all these years
Attached are a few more images.
 
Yes, the barrel does look chromed compared to the lock parts which are shinier.
I can distinguish some of the German silver parts.
It certainly looks & sounds to be a special factory made gun.
If you really want more info. about it, why not ask Pedersoli exactly what it was intended to commemorate?
I'm surprised that there wasn't any paperwork inside the box that provided more details when you bought it.

I wonder if there's a proof date code under the barrel denoting the year of production?
I wouldn't blame you for not wanting to remove the barrel to check.

Thank you for sharing the photos with us and any others that you might post.
 
I found a thread about a NIB USMC Commemorative Harper's Ferry flintlock posted about in 2009 that was for sale at Cherry's [in their used guns I think}. --->>> https://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?134314-USMC-Commemorative-Flintlock-Pistol

"Pedersoli Harper's Ferry USMC Commemorative Flintlock Pistol, Gun Appears New With Case. The cost is $795. "

Someone else posted in 2010 that they had a Harper's Ferry "San Jacinto Battle commemorative. It is rifled and has a rear sight". --->>> https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/1805-harpers-ferry.54161/
 
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1. I found one that looks just like the OP"s except possibly for barrel engraving that's not shown in the auction photos.
It's proof marked BI and was made in 1997. --->>> https://www.gunauction.com/buy/12934256

2. There also appears to be the same one shown [3rd column 2nd item down] on a Google book page described below: --->>> https://books.google.com/books?id=cRHJEILyK00C&pg=PA205&lpg=PA205&dq=pedersoli+commemorative+harpers+ferry+flintlock+pistol&source=bl&ots=RtO6tDG2aR&sig=ACfU3U03XS0HRoWqvV9fE4hSSSVy3mDiSw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwit_dDqoevhAhVGnOAKHT96Cpw4ChDoATADegQICRAB#v=onepage&q=pedersoli commemorative harpers ferry flintlock pistol&f=false

HSA Heritage Auctions Arms, Militaria and Civil War Auction Catalog ...
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1599675145
Marsha Dixey - 2010
Est.: $125-$150 52997 Centennial Arms Reproduction of Harpers Ferry M1 805 Pistol. ... 53000 Davide Pedersoli Harper's Ferry Black Powder Flintlock Pistol.

3. The OP's pistol does not appear to be an Army Commemorative Model since one is shown as Item C on this auction page described as having a bronze and case hardened finish, [with darkened barrel & brass furniture] and included a flask.
--->>> https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1029/3085/four-reproduction-flintlock-pistols

Note that the description for Item C could be a mistake about it being an Army Commemorative Model.
The auction house did list it as being percussion when it's not.
However it does appear to be a commemorative and the word Armi can be seen on the box.
 
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I should have known that the Italian word "armi" means weaponry, and that the description in your opening post that
" the pistol marked as above on the top of the chromed barrel " meant that it was inscribed US Army Commemorative on the barrel.
That had gone right by me in part because when I scroll down the page I lose sight of the title of the thread.

I did notice that the one in the auction has a stainless mainspring and yours looks like it has a blue mainspring in the photos.--->>> https://www.gunauction.com/buy/12934256
Is it the angle of the photo that makes your mainspring appear to be black or is it actually stainless?
Perhaps that's because they were made 4 years apart and Pedersoli changed its appearance?

Well, I didn't know about the gun before but I sure know something about it now.
Thanks again for all of the photos, especially of the inscription. :D
 
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