Here's a great, honest Harper's Ferry M1816 converted by the famous Confederate contract Samuel C. Robinson.
Given Robinson pre-war occupation as a lumber inspector, few would have predicted he would later become one of the the Confederacy's most prolific arms manufacturers. But after his woodworking background led to acquaintance of Connecticut Native John H. Lester of the Union Manufacturing Company, the two formed a silent partnership in the manufacturing of revolvers; an enterprise that Robinson would turnover to Edward N. Spiller and David J. Burr before any pistols were actually produced. The one thing that was retained through their shortlived pistol enterprise was Lester and Robinson partnership. As an owner of the Union Manufacturing Company, a machinery company that manufactured planing machines, sewing machines and steam engines that Lester had recently relocated from Brooklyn New York to Richmond Virginia, Lester was able to combine his manufacturing capabilities with Robinson's political connections and leverage them into a contract with the state of Virginia to convert "no less than 10,000" flintlock arms to percussion; founding the S.C. Robinson Armory in mid 1861. The armory would operate throughout the majority of the war, converting more than 18,000 flintlock weapons; and later producing the famous SC Robinson carbine - a copy of the Sharps.
The SC Robinson-converted flintlocks are easily identified by their distinctive hammer with tall spur and crude checkering. Like most Confederate conversions, SC Robinson utilized a brazed bolster that was bolted and brazed to the side of the barrel before being dressed down flush with the lock plate. This particular SC Robinson converted Harper's Ferry is an excellent example of the Armory's workmanship and is identical to those pictured on pgs. 620-628 of John M. Muprhy and Howard M. Madaus' authoritative book Confederate Rifles and Muskets. That's right, this is not a presumptive Confederate alteration, but a true honest-to-goodness identified alteration by a well known contractor.
This musket is in good condition and shows some honest use; like most Confederate weapons. The lock has good legible markings and a reliable half and full cock.
The stock is full length and free of major damage like chips, crack, or rotten spots. Several sets of initials can be found on the butt stock; whether or not they belong to Confederate soldiers is something we'll leave to the gun's new owner to decide.
The barrel is full length and the original SC Robinson brazed bolster is intact and as solid as the day it was installed. The bore is fair with some areas of scattered rust and pitting.
The furniture is all original, including the ram rod.
