{"product_id":"original-u-s-civil-war-era-springfield-model-1816-percussion-converted-musket-by-harpers-ferry-dated-1819","title":"Original U.S. Civil War Era Springfield Model 1816 Percussion Converted Musket by Harpers Ferry - dated 1819","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal item: One Only. The U.S. Model 1816 Musket was a .69 caliber smoothbore flintlock, with a 42-inch barrel and an overall length of 58 inches. It replaced the previous model 1812 musket, and often is viewed as a further development of that design. Like the Model 1812, the Model 1816 borrowed heavily from the design of the French Charleville model 1777 musket, but had a longer lock plate, a shorter trigger guard, and a longer bayonet than the Model 1812. The Model 1816 also had a more straight lined stock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Model 1816 was produced by the Springfield Armory, Harpers Ferry Armory, and numerous other contractors, such as M.T. Wickham. It was eventually replaced by the Springfield Model 1822, which is also considered by many to be a continuation of the Model 1816. These were sometimes referred to as \"Whitney Flintlocks\" due to the large number made in New Haven, Connecticut by Eli Whitney.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the 1850s, many of the Flintlock Muskets in Arsenal were converted to Percussion, which was a much more reliable and water-resistant ignition system. This involved all variants of the Model of the 1816, which helped to standardize the types of ammunition carried by the soldiers in the field. This example looks to have been returned to a state or federal arsenal some point, and had the lock converted to a percussion lock, and the breech of the barrel removed, with a breech plug with a built in cap bolster installed. This is very similar to the conversions done just before the start of the Civil War by companies such as \u003cspan\u003eHenry E. Leman of Lancaster PA, \u003c\/span\u003eHewes and Phillips of Newark, NJ, and others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnfortunately there is a large amount of powder burn on the breech area, as the musket saw extensive use after conversion, so any markings that were present have worn away. We also noted that the barrel is 41\", an inch shorter than it should be, so it looks like the muzzle end was damaged a bit, and then cut off to removed the damaged part. The lock is still marked with partial American \u003cstrong\u003e\"Federal Eagle\" \/ U.S.\u003c\/strong\u003e under of the hammer, and was produced at the \u003cem\u003eUnited States Armory and Arsenal at Harpers Ferry\u003c\/em\u003e itself, as indicated on the lock plate tail:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHARPERS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFERRY\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1818\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are no remnants of the brass flash pan and the holes in the lock are plugged, definitely indicating an arsenal or contractor level conversion. As mentioned previously, the markings on the breech of the barrel are completely worn away due to powder burn. There are faded stock cartouches visible on the left side below the lock screws, as well as a few stamped letters like V, but we cannot make out all of the markings clearly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall this is a very nice patinated example of a Model 1816 Long Musket, converted to percussion for further use. The stock is in very good condition, showing a lovely dark red brown color, showing light wear from use such as dents and small dings, but no cracks or repairs that we can see. The geometry is still relatively sharp, so we do not see any signs of major cleaning or refinishing. As we often see, the wood behind the cap bolster has been eroded by powder burn. The metalwork shows a lovely gray patina from years of cleaning to remove dirt and oxidation peppering, with past pitting visible in a few areas, now ground out. The lock is fully functional, holding at half cock and firing at full. The cap nipple cone is quite worn from use, and the cap bolster cleanout is currently rust seized and the screw head damaged. There is an original ramrod under the barrel, though it is quite difficult to get out, and both sling swivels were removed for some reason.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lovely patinated example of an early American Musket, converted to percussion and most likely reissued for use in the Civil War. Ready to research and display!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1819\u003cbr\u003eCaliber: .69\"\u003cbr\u003eCartridge Type: Ball and Powder\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 41 Inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 56 3\/4 Inches\u003cbr\u003eAction type: Side Action Percussion Lock\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: Muzzle Loading\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHistory of the Model 1816 Musket:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe War of 1812 had revealed many weaknesses in American muskets. The Model 1812 Musket was created in an attempt to improve both the design and manufacture of the musket. The Model 1816 made further improvements, and replaced the Model 1812. The Model 1812 had borrowed heavily from the design of the French Charleville model 1777 musket, and this design was retained for the Model 1816. The Model 1816 had a 42 inch long .69 caliber smoothbore barrel, similar to the Model 1812, but had a longer lock plate, a shorter trigger guard, and a longer bayonet than the Model 1812. The Model 1816 also had a more straight lined stock. The overall length of the weapon was 58 inches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Model 1816 musket was originally produced at the Harpers Ferry and Springfield Arsenals between 1816 and 1844. Around 675,000 were made, more than any other flintlock in U.S. history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Model 1816 was originally produced as a flintlock musket. Like many flintlock muskets, many of these were later converted to percussion cap, as the percussion cap system was much more reliable and weather resistant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis model of Springfield musket was used by Texans during the Texas Revolution and by the US Army and militia during the Mexican-American War. During this conflict, the flintlock version of the Model 1816 was preferred by U.S. regular forces, due to percussion cap supply concerns. It was also used during the early years of the American Civil War until around 1862.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany improvements to the Model 1816 were made, producing the Model 1822, Model 1835, Model 1840, and Model 1842. U.S. Ordnance Department referred to these as different models, but in other U.S. government documents they are referred to as a continuation of the Model 1816. Modern histories are similarly inconsistent in the nomenclature of these weapons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45222229639237,"sku":"ONSV26MFD001","price":1495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/08FC1E34-5E59-42C5-973B-E038FA23A231.jpg?v=1782500598","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-civil-war-era-springfield-model-1816-percussion-converted-musket-by-harpers-ferry-dated-1819","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}