Overall length 14"; barrel length 8.5"; caliber .54. Markings: on lockplate forward of hammer "U S/H. ASTON" or "U S/H. ASTON & CO.", on tail "MIDDTN/CONN/(date)"; on barrel, standard government inspection marks. Henry Aston of Middleton, Connecticut received a contract from U.S. War Department in February 1845, for 30,000 single-shot percussion pistols. These were delivered between 1846 and 1852, after which Ira N. Johnston continued production under a separate contract. Three thousand of these pistols were purchased for Navy usage. Many of these were subsequently marked with a small anchor on barrel near breech. These Navy purchases will command a slight premium.