H&P Type II Alteration of a US Harpers Ferry Model 1816 Type III Musket

American Civil War

.69 caliber. 42" round barrel secured by three flat, spring retained bands. SN: NSN. National Armory Bright finish, iron furniture, smooth walnut stock. Single shot muzzleloading percussion altered US military musket. Lock marked with a {SPREAD-WINGED EAGLE}/US forward of the hammer and in three vertical lines at the tail HARPERS/FERRY/1833. Hewes & Phillips added patent breech dated 1862 with H&P mark on face of bolster. Counterpane no visible cartouches. Altered to percussion by the firm of Hewes & Phillips of Newark, NJ and additionally modified by adding a US 1858 pattern 3-leaf rear sight at the breech but without rifling the bores. Approximately 12,000 guns were so altered with patent breeches, and long range rear sights without rifled bores, primarily for the US government. Musket retains both original sling swivels, the H&P added, tall iron front sight on the upper band, the small socket bayonet mounting lug on the top of the barrel near the muzzle and a full-length original button head ramrod with good threads at the end. The rear sight is of the M1861 pattern, instead of the typical M1858 pattern. {ANTIQUE}

From the Lifetime Collection of Robert G. Paulsen

This lot is located in Cincinnati.