Following the disbandment of the Continental Army in 1784, the United States kept only a token force of regulars to guard arsenals and frontier forts along the border. In the fledgling years of the American Republic, the government struggled to balance national-security needs with the inherent distrust Americans held toward standing armies. Tied up in this tug-of-war was the establishment of national armories for the production and storage of U.S.-made military arms.
However, events in the 1790s made it clear that some force of U.S. regulars was needed, and having a steady supply of domestically produced arms was a priority for these troops. From this need, the Model 1805 Harpers Ferry pistol would eventually be born.
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