The US Congress passed a Militia Act in 1808 to provide funding for military supplies, and one of the immediate resulting contracts was to Simeon North for 1000 pairs of Model 1808 Navy pistols. These were the first pistols contracted by the fledgling US Navy, and they specified a .64 caliber flintlock with a 10.5 inch barrel and a belt hook on the left side. The guns came in at 2 pounds, 14 ounces (1.3 kg). After the initial contract for 1000 pairs in June of 1808 (at $11.75/pair), a second contract was signed in December 1810 for an additional 500 pairs (this time at $12/pair).