Original 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.

The 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.

The outbreak of the Civil War in the United States created a large need for percussion muskets, as the number of modern firearms currently on hand was far short of what was needed. To fill this need, updating older design firearms was both faster and more cost effective, so many Model 1816 family muskets still in service were updated to percussion rifles.

This patinated example however still is in the original flintlock configuration, and was originally manufactured in 1819 at the United States Armory and Arsenal at Harpers Ferry in what was then Virginia, today in the state of West Virginia. This is indicated by markings on the tail of the lock plate:

HARPERS
FERRY
1819

There is also a EAGLE over U.S. marking on the lock plate in front of the hammer, which is still visible amidst the rust peppering on the lock plate. The left side of the barrel breech is marked with the correct V / P / Eagle's Head proofs, correct for this time period, as the "Liberty Cap" had been deprecated in 1799 in favor of other markings. There are also two oval inspection cartouches and some other stampings on the left side of the stock below the side plate, definitely an avenue of future research. The butt plate is U.S. marked on the tang, faintly visible through the oxidation.

Overall this is a very good patinated example of a Model 1816 Long Musket, still in the original flintlock configuration with no signs of alteration or reconversion to the lock and barrel. The stock is in very nice condition, showing evidence of long use, with the expected dents and dings from service, and overall wear. It also has been cut through under the lower barrel band at some point, and then glued back together along with a grafted in piece of wood on the left side. This doesn't look to be a duffel cut, so we are not sure why this was done, and the fore stock doesn't look to have been swapped out.

The metalwork is lovely, showing a nice aged brown peppered patina overall, with past rust pitting giving it a lovely speckled look. It looks like it was exposed to moisture over a long period, and then later cleaned. The lock still functions correctly, holding at full cock and firing at full. The sling swivels are both still present and move easily, and it has the correct ramrod still under the barrel, with the threaded end broken off.

A lovely patinated example of an early American Musket, most likely never reissued for use in the Civil War. It has plenty of research potential and is ready to display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: circa 1819
Caliber: .69"
Cartridge Type: Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 42 Inches
Overall Length: 57 1/4 Inches
Action type: Side Action Percussion Lock
Feed System: Muzzle Loading

History of the Model 1816 Musket:

The 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.

The 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.

The 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.

This 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.

Many 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.

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.

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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.