Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original U.S. Model 1842 .69 caliber percussion musket manufactured at the United States Armory at Harpers Ferry, with the lock dated 1850. The Model 1842 was the last standard U.S. smoothbore musket and the first U.S. military musket designed from the outset with a percussion ignition system. This example remains in its original smoothbore configuration and shows an attractive, evenly aged service patina throughout.

This is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

The lock plate is marked with the Federal eagle over U.S. forward of the hammer, while the tail is clearly marked:

HARPERS
FERRY
1850

identifying manufacture at the United States Armory and Arsenal at Harpers Ferry rather than by a private contractor. The thin, flat side plate is consistent with the Model 1842 pattern. The breech still retains most of the V / P / Eagle's Head proof markings, though the barrel tang date has been completely worn away. No inspector cartouches are now visible on the left side of the stock.

The approximately .69 caliber barrel remains smoothbore rather than having been rifled during a later alteration. The bore is in very good present condition, showing only light evidence of old fouling and oxidation. The exterior metalwork shows widespread old peppery oxidation that has since been cleaned or stabilized, leaving an even light gray, speckled patina without serious deep pitting. The percussion cone appears to be a period replacement, and there is relatively little concentrated powder burn or heavy corrosion around the bolster.

The lock presently functions, holding at half cock and releasing at full cock. These observations describe only its current mechanical condition and are not an indication that the musket is safe to load or fire.

The iron furniture remains substantially complete, including the barrel bands, nose cap, and both sling swivels, one mounted to the middle barrel band and the other at the front of the trigger guard. Both swivels remain movable. The U.S. marking normally found on the butt plate is no longer visible, apparently lost through past oxidation and cleaning. The ramrod beneath the barrel appears to be a more recent replacement rather than an original period rod.

The American black walnut stock has developed a deep reddish brown tone from age and oiling. It shows scattered dents, scuffs, and handling wear consistent with long service and storage, but no major cracks or significant structural repairs are noted.

With its 1850 dated Harpers Ferry lock, surviving federal proofs, original .69 caliber smoothbore configuration, functional percussion lock, complete iron mounted profile, and attractive aged patina, this is a strong example of a U.S. Model 1842 musket from the years preceding the Civil War. The replacement ramrod, likely replaced percussion cone, loss of stock cartouches and butt plate marking, and cleaned oxidation are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in a U.S. martial arms, Harpers Ferry, Model 1842, antebellum military, or Civil War era long arms collection.

Specifications:-

Year of Manufacture: 1850
Maker: Harpers Ferry Armory and Arsenal
Model: Springfield 1842 Percussion Musket
Caliber: .69"
Cartridge Type: Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 42 Inches
Overall Length: 58 Inches
Action type: Side Action Percussion Lock
Feed System: Muzzle Loading
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

The Springfield Model 1842 was a .69 caliber musket manufactured and used in the United States during the mid-19th century. It is a continuation of the Springfield Model 1816 line of muskets but is generally referred to as its own model number rather than just a variant of the Model 1816.

The Model 1842 was the last U.S. smoothbore musket. Many features that had been retrofitted into the Springfield Model 1840 were standard on the Model 1842. The Model 1842 was the first primary U.S. musket to be produced with a percussion lock; however, most of the Model 1840 flintlocks ended up being converted to percussion locks before reaching the field as the percussion cap system was vastly superior to the flintlock being much more reliable and weather resistant.

Like all Model 1816 derivatives, the Model 1842 has a .69 caliber smoothbore barrel that was 42 inches (110 cm) in length. The Model 1842 had an overall length of 58 inches (150 cm) and a weight of 10 pounds (4.5 kg). A musketoon variant, designated the Springfield Model 1847, was also produced.

A great emphasis was placed on manufacturing processes for the Model 1842. It was the first small arm produced in the U.S. with fully interchangeable (machine-made) parts. Approximately 275,000 Model 1842 muskets were manufactured at the Springfield and Harpers Ferry armories between 1842 and 1855.

Model 1842 muskets were also made by independent contractors. However, these were few in number. Some were made by A.H. Waters and B. Flagg & Co., both of Millbury, Massachusetts. These were distinguished by having brass furniture instead of iron. A.H. Waters went out of business due to a lack of contracts in New England, and Flagg entered into a partnership with William Glaze of South Carolina. They relocated the machinery to the Palmetto Armory in Columbia, South Carolina. Instead of "V" over "P" over the eagle's head, these guns were usually stamped "P" over "V" over the palmetto tree. Most of the output of the Palmetto Armory went to the state militia of South Carolina. There were only 6,020 Model 1842 type muskets produced on that contract and none were made there after 1853.[2]

Like the earlier Model 1840, the Model 1842 was produced with an intentionally thicker barrel than necessary, with the assumption that it would likely be rifled later. As the designers anticipated, many of the Model 1842 muskets had their barrels rifled later so that they could fire the newly developed Minié ball. While older converted muskets could not withstand the increased breech pressure generated by the new expanding projectile, the Model 1842 performed well.

Tests conducted by the U.S. Army showed that the .69 caliber musket was not as accurate as the smaller bore rifled muskets. Also, the Minié ball, being conical and longer than it was broad, had much more mass than a round ball of the same caliber. A smaller caliber Minié ball could be used to provide as much mass on target as the larger .69 caliber round ball. For these reasons, the Model 1842 was the last .69 caliber musket. The Army later standardized on the .58 caliber Minié ball, as used in the Springfield Model 1855, Springfield Model 1861, and Springfield Model 1863.

Both the original smoothbore version and the modified rifled version of the Model 1842 were used in the American Civil War. The smoothbore version was produced without sights (except for a cast one on the barrel band). When Model 1842 muskets were modified to have rifled barrels, sights were usually added at the same time as the rifling.

The Model 1842 musket was effectively used during the American Civil War. Afterwards it was sold as surplus abroad to other countries such as China, Japan during the Boshin War, and Mexico during the 1870s as well as traveling west to the American frontier.

NOTE: 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.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.