.54 caliber. 9.9375" pinned barrel. NSN. Bright finish, brass furniture, walnut stock. Single shot smoothbore muzzleloading flintlock pistol with a small brass blade front sight, no rear sight, traditional lobed butt cap, a single ramrod thimble and an old wood ramrod. Flat beveled flint lock with prominent teat at the rear appears to be in original flint with an integral rounded and fenced iron pan with external bridle, flat toed frizzen and flat beveled double throated cock. Lock marked "H. DERINGER / PHILA" below the pan. Lock numbered "9" on the interior, as are the lock mounting screws. The barrel has a single "P" proof and an "M" mark for Maryland and with another block "M"  present on the counterpane.

These Deringer contract pistols were made during the War of 1812 and most consider them to be designated as Model 1813 contract arms. Most  were made for Maryland like this one, with some made for shipboard use and some going to other buyers. This example is "M" marked for  "Maryland".  Only a few hundred of these guns, at most were made, with some estimates as low as 56 and some as high as 1,000 or so. A rare, War of 1812 era contract pistol by a desirable maker. {ANTIQUE}

Good+ to Very Good. Bore dark, dirty, oxidized and pitted. Metal lightly cleaned to bright with patches of surface oxidation and discoloration and some scattered pitting, most notably around the breech. Markings remain mostly clear and legible. Lock remains in original flint, although the mainspring is broken and not in the lock. Touchhole shows moderate erosion, is well centered in the pan and shows proper angle and taper. Brass with a nice mustard patina. Wood fairly crisp with some wear and some added finish, showing scattered bumps, dings and mars.