The guide to American naval pistols of the 19th century This work provides an illustrated history of 100 years of handguns issued to US Navy personnel.  It features 70 different pistols and more than 250 color images, covering the period from 1797 to 1895. The early years feature flintlock boarding pistols and their conversion to percussion ignition. They are followed by the short era of percussion muzzle-loading pistols and the transition to percussion revolvers, just prior to the American Civil War. After the war, these revolvers were modified to use cartridges before finally making way for dedicated cartridge revolvers. This period encompasses large technological advancements and several major conflicts, including the Quasi-War with France, the War of 1812, the War with Mexico, and the American Civil War.