This is a Model 1816 Springfield musket from the Civil War era. The musket was originally a smooth bore .69 caliber flintlock weapon that was converted somewhere between 1848 and 1861. The type of conversion used is know as the "cone in barrel", a Belgian variation of the French system of converting flintlock to percussion weapons. In this style of conversion all external lock parts were removed and all holes in the lock plate plugged. The flashpan was cut off flush with the top of the lockplate. A nipple was added to the barrel and the hammer was replaced to coincide with the new percussion system. This converted and altered musket measures 44 3/4" in length with a 29" barrel. The barrel has a dark, heavily rusted bore. There is no visible sign of the original rifling. The exterior of the barrel has a black patina with heavy pitting along the entire surface of the barrel. Only the rear band of the three original bands still remains, the stock having been shortened in accordance with the barrel length. The band, along with all the other iron parts of the gun have a dark, attic black patina. The barrel proof marks are no longer visible. The barrel tang does not appear to be dated. The lockplate is marked SPRING/FIELD/1827 behind the hammer and has an eagle over the letters US forward of the hammer. The action is very weak, but the hammer holds both half and full cock. The hammer strikes the original nipple weakly when the trigger is depressed. The trigger guard has rounded finials and is stamped with the letters ST. The rear sling swivel is still on the trigger guard bow. The side plate opposite the lockplate has the letter S stamped into it. The butt plate has the US markings on the tang. The button ramrod is long gone. The dark walnut stock is in relic condition. The stock has been shortened to just forward of the rear barrel band retaining spring. Amazingly there are no cracks in the stock, but the right side of the stock is missing the bottom third near the butt plate toe. The wood is suffering from dry rot, the result of being left out in the elements for years. There is also an oval cartouche on the left stock flat and a round cartouche. The initials of the inspectors are no longer legible. This example of an early military musket was found in a barn recently in east Tennessee. It could have seen service in the Mexican American war and then been converted for use in the American Civil War. Sometime after the war it was again converted to a shotgun, complete with brass bead front sight. While it may not shine like a new penny, this one piece still possesses some nice display power!

Item # AA3330

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