Here's a fantastic, collector grade, M1842. The Model 1842 has the distinction of being America's last smoothbore musket. This venerable .69 caliber was also the first universally interchangeable arm built by America's Federal arsenals of Springfield and Harper's Ferry. Because of it's interchangeability and robust design, the M1842 was issued in large number during the Civil War and was used heavily by both Federal and Confederate forces. This particular '42 is in excellent condition, and is one of roughly 44,000 M1842 muskets that were rifled at five U.S. arsenals and armories, including the Springfield, and Harper’s Ferry armories, and the Saint Louis, Frankford, and Benicia Arsenals. Interestingly, of the 44,000 guns that were rifled, only about 24,000 received upgraded sights to allow them to shoot accurately, with some guns receiving both upgraded front and rear sights, others only receiving rear sights, and the balance receiving no sight upgrades at all!
This particular rifled '42 is in excellent condition and appears to be one of the rifled conversions that was fitted with a new rear sight but did not receive an upgraded rifled front sight, as it's nosecap retains its original brass smoothbore sight.
Furthermore, it appears that this musket was rifled at either Saint Louis, Frankford, or Benicia, as it is "mismatched" and features a Harper's Ferry stock and a Springfield lock and barrel. Normally, collectors should be aware of "mismatched" weapons, but in the case of the rifled '42, these "mismatched" guns are typical of the guns converted Saint Louis, Frankford, and Benicia. While Springfield largely converted Springfield-made guns and Harper's Ferry converted Harper's Ferry-made guns, the other arsenels received both Springfield and Harper's Ferry muskets; and, because the 1842 was the first fully interchangeable US arm, arsenal workers did not concern themselves with keeping the guns "all correct" in accordance to their manufacturers or dates of manufacture, and these completely rifles left the arsenal with all manor of mismatched parts, making them "correct" in their own right!
This rifle remains in phenomenal condition. The stock is in excellent condition with a great color. The lock panels are crisp and sharp indicating that this musket was never sanded.
The lock is in great shape. All the markings are crisp and legible and the hammer holds solid at both full and half cock.
The barrel is full length and in good condition. The stamps at the breech are present, with a great VP and Eagle and a crisp 1846 tang date. The rifled bore is good - the rifling is a bit dark in the grooves but the rifling is very crisp with no areas of heavy rust or pitting - it looks to be very shootable! The original front and rear sights are intact and unmodified.
All the furniture is original and in great shape - nicely finished with a smooth even patina and no major rust or abuse. The ramrod is an American-made reproduction and is full length.
This would be an ideal addition to anyone's collection. The M1842 was such a staple on the Civil War Battlefield that no collection is complete without it!
