.69 caliber. 25.875" barrel secured by two flat, spring-retained bands. NSN. Bright finish, brass furniture, walnut military stock. Single shot percussion muzzleloading cavalry musektoon altered to cadet musketoon with brass blade front sight, no rear sight, the three click tumbler from the earlier cavalry musketoon modifications period, a socket bayonet stud below the muzzle, sling swivels and a straight shank button head ramrod. Lock marked with a {Spread-Winged Eagle}/US forward of the hammer and in three vertical lines at the tail SPRING/FIELD/1851. Breech plug tang with matching 1851 date. Left of breech with typical V/P/{Eagle Head} proofs. Counterpane with the outline of a weak, illegible cartouche. Originally one of the 5,802 US Model 1847 Cavalry Musketoons that were produced between 1847 and 1854, this gun was later altered to what is often referenced as the "artillery modification" with the removal of the sling bar and ring, addition of sling swivels and removal of the captive, swivel ramrod, with the lug upon which it pivoted being ground down to serve as a lug for a US M1835 socket bayonet. During 1858 and 1859 630 M1847 Cavalry Musketoons were altered to the "artillery" configuration to issue to states for use as Cadet muskets, as all of the stores of M1841 and M1851 Cadet Muskets had been issued. The initial guns provided to the states were the M1847 Artillery Musketoons which required no modifications for that purpose. Later M1847 Sappers & Miners Musketoons were altered for use as Cadet musketoons and finally the cavalry musketoons were altered. A rare example of a Cadet Musketoon, made from a M1847 Cavalry Musketoon. {ANTIQUE}