Arms, Armor and Militaria Online

.69 caliber. 31" round barrel. NSN. Bright finish, full-length walnut stock. Smoothbore single shot percussion ignition muzzleloading musketoon made from a Model 1842 Musket. Lock with standard Springfield markings and dated 1846 at tail, breech plug tang with matching 1846 date and standard proofs. A clear script JAS cartouche is present on the counterpane. Modifications include the shortening of the 42" barrel to 31", shortening forend appropriately, removal of the middle barrel band, moving the upper band back to a position just forward of the original middle band, recutting the spring inlet for the middle band spring to accommodate the spring needed to retain the upper band and reshaping the forend to remove the step for the middle band. Additionally a sling swivel was added to the stock toe, 6.5" from the rear bow of the triggerguard and a lug and swivel were added to the bottom of the upper barrel band. The original brass blade front sight was retained and no rear sight was added. The muzzle extension area measures 2.75", like an M1847 Artillery Musketoon, but a bayonet lug was not added to the barrel. The triggergaurd bow does not have a swivel stud position. The potential designs for the US Model 1847 family of musketoons were not officially evaluated by an Ordnance Board until February of 1847 and Moller notes that in late 1846 some sample arms were made up. In many ways this has the appearance of just such a sample arm and the condition suggests it may well be one of the samples made up for evaluation. {ANTIQUE}