Curator's Corner: Frye Flintlock

John Popp and NRA Museums firearms special Logan Metesh take a look at a rare model 1808 U.S. martial pistol. Seven contractors submitted a total of 1,802 flintlock pistols to the Schuylkill Arsenal in Pennsylvania. Of contractor Martin Fry's 116 pistols, only three were considered within specifications. One authority said, "It would have been better to throw the whole amount in the river than to have purchased them." Those three are the only Fry pistols to survive. One was converted to percussion. Of the two remaining flintlocks, one is on display at the NRA National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Virginia.

[@chrischiampo7647]

With Flintlocks You Have To Keep Your Powder Dry 😐😐😐

[@supremereader7614]

It seems very unwieldy and why did they want handguns anyways? Wouldn’t it be even more wildly inaccurate?

[@JohnLeePedimore]

The cavalry used them a lot because they left one hand for the reigns. This continued up to the Civil War when most of the revolvers were used by cavalry.

[@supremereader7614]

JohnLeePedimore Surprisingly good, non-sarcastic answer. ☺️👍