{"product_id":"original-u-s-commonwealth-of-pennsylvania-model-1797-flintlock-musket-by-john-miles-circa-1798","title":"Original War of 1812 U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Model 1797 Flintlock Musket by John Miles - circa 1798","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal item: One of a Kind. Now this is something we do not see every day! This is a very early American Flintlock Musket, produced for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The states were responsible for maintaining their own stocks of arms for their militias, so at the very end of the 18th Century, Pennsylvania started to have these rifles produced, often with parts supplied by the National Armories.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePennsylvania acted in 1797 to procure 20,000 muskets on its own and offered contracts for 10,000 that could be imported and another 10,000 to be produced in the U.S., all of the Charleville pattern in .69 caliber, which had proven itself in the Revolution. Much like the Springfield Model of 1795, the PA Model 1797 is based heavily on the Charleville musket, Model 1763\/66, which had been imported in large numbers from the French during the American Revolution. In the years following the war in the 1790s, French muskets comprised the largest number of muskets in U.S. arsenals at about 20,000 muskets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Miles of Philadelphia County\u003c\/strong\u003e signed a contract for 2,000 muskets on Sept. 3, 1798, indenturing a piece of real estate in the Northern Liberties to cover an advance of $600 offered on the contract. Later, as tensions continued to rise, the British government voided contracts with the Ketland Company for 10,000 imported muskets, Pennsylvania issued a second round of contracts to make up for the shortfall, and Miles received a second contract for another 2,000 muskets in April 1801.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a very nice example of a musket from Mile's first contract, correctly marked \u003cstrong\u003eMILES\u003c\/strong\u003e over \u003cstrong\u003eCP\u003c\/strong\u003e, for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The musket is in very good condition, especially considering the age, and has a great look, a real \"sleeper\". There are some faded arsenal markings on the breech end of the barrel, but they are faded and look to have been rack numbers or something similar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe musket's mounts are all of iron and the iron lock plate shows old rust speckling, which actually is not bad at all. There is some powder burn and surface oxidation near the touch hole, as expected for any musket that saw service. The ramrod is still present, and definitely looks to be original. The lock functions, however the internals are worn, so it does not hold at half cock. The stock does show some cracking around the lock and breech area, and there is a glued and pinned repair to the rear right of the barrel tang. The wood is now dark from years of age and polishing, giving it a fantastic patina.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA very nice example of a very early American State Issued military musket, only the second that we have ever had. Ready to research and display!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:-\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eYear of Manufacture:\u003cspan\u003e circa 1798\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eCaliber: .69\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCartridge Type: Ball and Powder\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 43 3\/4 Inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 58 3\/4 Inches\u003cbr\u003eAction type: Side Action Flintlock\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: Muzzle Loading\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":40568526012485,"sku":"ONSV23DCW74","price":2395.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV23DCW74__01.jpg?v=1682726252","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-commonwealth-of-pennsylvania-model-1797-flintlock-musket-by-john-miles-circa-1798","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}