Cherokee .28 Caliber Percussion Pistol
date: label: Date made
content: 1843
label: associated date
content: 1845
name: label: maker
content: Salolinita
notes: label: Description
content: This .28-caliber percussion pistol with a distinctive underhammer design was made in Qualla Town, now Cherokee, North Carolina in 1843. Inscriptions in English and Cherokee identify it as the work of Salola, a blacksmith of the Oconaluftee Cherokee.
label: Description
content: Underhammer pistols were popular from the mid-1830s until the Civil War. Sometimes called bootleg pistols, underhammers were easily constructed, were easy to carry and draw, offered an unobstructed line of sight for aiming, and provided a measure of safety from exploding percussion caps to the shooter's eyes.
label: Description
content: This pistol was sent to the Patent Office in 1845 by William Holland Thomas as an example of the educational and industrial aptitude of the Cherokee people. A white trader in Qualla Town, Thomas learned the Cherokee language and was soon adopted by the tribe. He went on to become a lawyer and represented the Eastern Band of Cherokee as a state senator and as an advocate in Washington, D. C.
label: Description
content: The pistol was held at the Patent Office until the opening of the Smithsonian's Arts & Industries Building in 1883.
place: label: Place Made
content: United States
label: made at
content: United States: North Carolina
title: label: Title
content: Cherokee Percussion Pistol
topic: label: Subject
content: Native Americans
label: Subject
content: Firearms
label: related event
content: Expansion and Reform
setName: label: See more items in
content: Military and Society: Armed Forces History, Military
label: See more items in
content: Military
label: See more items in
content: National Treasures exhibit
label: See more items in
content: ThinkFinity
label: Exhibition
content: Price of Freedom
label: Exhibition Location
content: National Museum of American History
publisher: label: Related Publication
content: Kendrick, Kathleen M. and Peter C. Liebhold. Smithsonian Treasures of American History
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: AF.96913
label: catalog number
content: 96913
label: accession number
content: 13152
objectType: label: Object Name
content: pistol
label: Other Terms
content: pistol; Firearms; Percussion Fire; .28 In; Rifled; Muzzle Load; Sa
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: brass (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: steel (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 4 in x 11 1/2 in x 1 in; 10.16 cm x 29.21 cm x 2.54 cm