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 handsome flintlock should make for a great reenacting or skirmishing musket. This Whitney is in great shape. The lock has been nicely re-converted to flintlock and the new flint components have been expertly antiqued to match the rest of the musket. The lock sparks very nicely. The lock plate is in great shape with crisp, legible markings.
The stock is very nice with an old repair in the left side which was recently re-done with modern epoxy to make it extremely strong. The crack is now only cosmetic. The barrel is entirely custom made by Dan Whitacre. Mr. Whitacre's barrels are double lapped for match grade accuracy and they are also N-SSA approved; making this musket legal for skirmishing. The barrel has also been externally patined to match the rest of the musket and internally the bore is nearly perfect.
