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    This single shot pistol was made at the Palmetto Armory in Columbia, South Carolina.  The Palmetto Armory was founded in the early 1850s by William Glaze to make and supply arms to South Carolina’s State Militia.  The armory had a contract with the state government to supply one thousand pair of these pistols and assorted other arms.  He was to begin delivery in January of 1852.  The pistol contract was later reduced to 1000 pistols, or 500 pair.  Glaze did manage to complete this contract in 1853. 

     All of these pistols were owned by the state of South Carolina and as such they were housed at the state arsenal.  After the secession fever of the early 1850s died down the pistols were no longer needed and remained in storage until 1860 when a clash between North and South seemed inevitable.  The arms stored in the arsenal were issued to South Carolina’s troops and used throughout the War.

     The Palmetto pistol is made on the U.S. model 1842 pattern.  It has a .54 smoothbore barrel.  The barrel is marked Wm Glaze & Co on the left barrel flat.  The breech is stamped with a Palmetto tree a “P” and a “V”.  The barrel tang is marked 1853.  

   The lock plate is marked Columbia SC 1852 behind the hammer and Palmetto Armory S*C around the spiral tree palmetto in front of the hammer.  The pistol is in very fine, original condition.  It retains its original brown finish under the wood, the bore is near bright.  The nipple is perfect, the stampings are crisp and clear and the pistol is completely original in all regards. 

     This fine weapon comes from the Dr. Fred Novy collection and is the best of the best.