Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have a very unique pistol that fired an enormously more unique cartridge. This is the Marston Breech Loading Single Shot Percussion Pistol. William Walker Martson known for such inventions as the Gibbs rifle produced these pistols in the 1850s. These were single-shot breech-loading percussion pistols that used a 31-caliber cartridge. The cartridges were made of leather and paper. The latter was said to aid in sealing the action so all gases could be used to enhance velocity but also to stop the action from fouling too quickly.
“Manufactured in the early to mid 1850s with a total production of only approximately 1,000. The top barrel flat is marked “W.W. MARSTON/PATENTED 1850” followed by “NEW YORK” and the matching serial number is marked on the bottom barrel flat and bottom of the frame at the breech. The iron frame is engraved with the standard light floral scroll designs and the hammer has a simple pattern. The action is operated by a lever in front of the grip and a unique Marston patent leather base, paperboard bodied cartridge was used. Dovetailed small blade front and notch rear sights, all blue finish and fitted with smooth varnished walnut grips. Flayderman states that this model was “traditionally considered by collectors as a secondary martial handgun” but further concludes that there is no evidence to support this. Nonetheless, a rare American pistol!”
Lot 84: Rare Marston Breech Loading Single Shot Percussion Pistol. (n.d.). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/55/84/rare-marston-breech-loading-single-shot-percussion-pistol.
