Even though Eli Whitney was not given a Federal musket contract in 1808, his armory kept busy by building arms for state militias like New York and Connecticut. These arms were largely identical to the "Charleville" pattern of 1795 until 1709, when New York requested several changes be applied to the arms that it was purchasing from the Connecticut-based firm.
1st. The barrel would need to be 1/4 to 1/2 pound heavier
2nd. Additional strength needed to be added to the limbs of the lock
3rd. Additional strength needed to be added to the breech plug; increasing its length 2 to 4 threads
4th. Addtional strength would be needed in the grip of the stock.
5th. The stock were to be made from seasoned black walnut and the whole to be complete in a "workmanlike manner".
Whitney adopted these changes into his official pattern and by 1810 he was delivering the updated muskets to both New York and Connecticut. It wasn't long after, that the Federal Government was given a chance to inspect this new pattern musket, as Whitney sent several to Philadelphia in 1812 for a conference that was being held to adopt a new standard infantry musket. Whitney's new pattern was quickly approved and designated the M1812.
The Model 1812 also has historical significance as the first US military weapon that was actually designed in America. The two models that preceded the M1812, the M1795 and the M1808, were more or less copies of the French M1766 Charleville muskets that had been heavily imported by the Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War. However, with the new improvements implemented by Whitney and later adopted by the War Department, the US finally had its first uniquely "American" musket.
This particular musket is in excellent condition. The stock is in beautiful shape with nice crisp edges and no cracks, chips or rotten spots. The original inspector's cartouche is still visible on the lock panel. The initials "MS" can be found on the stock, barrel, and ramrod. These are the initials of an unidentified inspector as mentioned in Pete Schmidt's book, US Military Flintlock Muskets and Their Bayonets.
The lock plate is marked "N. HAVEN", as is appropriate for Whitney M1812's, and has a nice patina and no pitting. Originally built as a flintlock, this lock was converted to percussion for use in the Civil War. However, there is some mystery over who did the conversion work. Original records indicate that the Federal arsenals of Springfield and Harper's Ferry only converted flintlocks that were built after 1816, meaning that this musket was either converted by a private arsenal (like Whitney) as part of a state contract or by the Confederacy.
The hardware is all original and all matching. All the band springs are intact and functional. The barrel is full length and the bore is good with some light rust.
This is a great collector's piece for any American military enthusiast. As America's first domestically designed musket with a great Civil War provenance, this musket is a must-own!
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