Original U.S. Civil War Era Springfield Model 1842 Percussion Musket with Rifled Barrel - dated 1852 & 1853
Item Description
Original item: One Only. The US Model 1842 Musket was a .69 caliber musket manufactured and used in the United States during the 19th Century. It was a continuation of the Model 1816 line of muskets but is generally referred to by its own model number rather than just a variant of the Model 1816. All of these muskets were 58 inches long, with a barrel around 42 inches in length.
The Model 1842 was the last U.S. smoothbore musket produced. Many features that had been retrofitted into the Model 1840 were standard on the Model 1842. The Model 1842 was the first U.S. musket to be produced with a percussion lock, though most of the Model 1840 flintlocks ended up being converted to percussion locks before reaching the field. The percussion cap system was vastly superior to the flintlock, being much more reliable and much more resistant to weather.
The Models 1840 & 1842 were made with thicker barrel walls, with the intention that they could be rifled later, and that is exactly what was done to this rifle. We checked the bore, and it still has strong three groove rifling, though there is powder fouling overall, which can make it hard to see. It is marked with an "American Eagle" over US, and the lock plate tail is clearly marked SPRING / FIELD / 1853. Many of these muskets were produced under contract, however this example was made at Springfield Armory itself. The rifle side plate is thin and not bulged, as typical of the Model 1842 Musket. Previous iterations had had a more pronounced side plate with a bulge in the middle.
The barrel nocks form still has V / P / Eagle's Head proof marks visible, and it is dated 1852 on the barrel tang, so the musket was probably made at the beginning of 1853, with a barrel made the previous year.
With all iron mounts this .69 caliber musket is in very good service used condition, with the original ramrod present, along with both barrel bands and the nose cap. The butt plate is correctly U.S. marked. It still has both swivel bands present, one on the middle barrel band and one on the front of the trigger guard. There is light powder burn near the cap bolster, which has not seriously eroded the area, and the stock there is still present. The cap nipple cone looks to be original, showing some wear from use and oxidation. The lock still functions correctly, holding correctly at half cock and firing at full, though the hammer screw looks to have been replaced long ago.
The metalwork overall has a somewhat browned speckled finish from years of age and gentle cleaning. The stock has a great look, with no major cracks or other damage. It looks to have a lot of the original brown finish often applied to muskets in U.S. service during the mid 19th Century.
This musket almost certainly saw service in the U.S. Civil War, very possibly for the Confederacy. Ready to cherish and display!
Specifications-
Year of Manufacture: 1852 & 1853 - Rifled Later
Caliber: .69" with three groove Rifling
Cartridge Type: Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 42 Inches
Overall Length: 58 Inches
Action type: Side Action Percussion Lock
Feed System: Muzzle Loading
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.
- This product is available for international shipping.
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.
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