Antique Kentucky Pistol

Bird & Brothers are listed in Frank Sellers American Gunsmiths as working in Philadelphia from 1812 to 1818.  This is a fairly high end pistol sporting a roller frizzen spring and a water proof pan.  The .48 cal. rifled barrel is 8 1/2" long with front and rear sights. The furniture is iron and I beleive the stock is American maple. There are two wood repair on the pistol. One is a very small piece of wood replaced around the top lockplate side screw and the second is where a piece of wood was period nailed down behind the hammer. Neither repair detracts from the beauty of the pistol. This is the kind of pistol that was used by Andrew Jackson to defeat the British at the Battle of New Orleans and late on at the Alamo.  

Copy and photos can be found at John J. Hayes Historical Collectibles.