I'm currently in a discussion currently about a m1817 Common Rifle produced by Simeon North. It has undergone a Federal conversion, nothing unusual there. What I am puzzled on, is the date of the lockplate, which appears to be original to the rifle.
My question which arises from this is that North was awarded the contract in Dec. of 1823. But Reilly and Moller both cite that his deliveries began in 1824. A three-week turn around is possible, but seems a little bit of a stretch (or maybe not).
I do not think it's a 1823 pistol lockplate that was swapped because his last pistol with a similarly sized lockplate was only produced between 1813-1815 (m1813 Army Pistol), and the only other pistol at this time which he was producing was about 4-5/8".
So is this simply a state contract m1817, or one if his first ones ever produced for his 1823 contract? I have bot been able to locate any state contract information regarding North prior to his Federal contract.
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