US M1816 Harpers Ferry Percussion Conversion Musket

Description

Recent South Carolina attic find, this musket is of M1816 Type II construction, with later
conversion from flintlock to percussion. Flat lock plate with rounded back, stamped
“HARPERS/FERRY/18**” vertically behind the cock; the other lock markings obscured.
Tapering 42″ round barrel of .69 caliber; the breech heavily corroded and markings
obscured. Walnut full stock with iron mounts, consisting of three barrel bands, trigger guard
with long tang, serpentine side plate, and butt plate with top tang. Sling swivel on front of
trigger guard frozen in place; sling swivel on middle band broken and missing. No ramrod.
In semi-relic condition, with moderate to heavy pitting. The mainspring broken and large
piece of wood missing behind the nipple bolster. The condition of this musket is typical of a
battlefield pickup which had laid out in the elements for some time. Many of these
percussion conversion muskets were used during the early stages of the Civil War. Some
were captured from the Harpers Ferry Arsenal after Stonewall Jackson’s raid in September,
1862. In addition, thousands of parts and machinery were sent south to various
Confederate arsenals to boost Confederate arms manufacturing. If only this musket could
talk, what a story it would have to tell! Overall length 57 1/2″.