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 1817 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
1817

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 faint oval US and 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 no markings on the stock we can see, and powder burn from the flash pan has most likely removed addition markings on the barrel.

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 was split completely through the wrist at some point, and there are wood graft repairs on the back and through the wrist area used to repair it, most likely at some point during the mid 20th century. There is also some cracking under the fore stock along the ramrod channel with a small hole into the channel.

The metalwork is lovely, showing a nice aged brown peppered patina overall, with past rust pitting giving it a lovely speckled look. The lock still functions correctly, holding at full cock and firing at full. The sling swivels are both still present and move easily, though they may be period replacements. The original ramrod is unfortunately missing.

A lovely patinated example of an early American Musket, most likely never reissued for use in the Civil War. Ready to research and display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: circa 1817
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.

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