This weapon is a single shot, muzzle loading, .69 caliber smoothbore musket manufactured at Harper’s Ferry.

The barrel surface is bright with moderate mottling and oxidation spots scattered over its surface. There is some pitting along the left side of the barrel in the area of the front band as well as two or three spots on the breech. There is no rear sight and the brass blade front sight is mounted on the rearmost of the front double barrel band. The bayonet lug is mounted above the muzzle. Musket has been converted by the cone method where the top of the barrel was drilled and a nipple screwed in place. Breech area has a very strong “VP” and eaglehead and a deep “1819” date. Next to the base of the nipple is a stamped “D” over “88.” The nipple is badly peened over leaving only a small vent hole. The bore is mostly clean but does show light scattered pitting along it length.

The lockplate has a lightly cleaned appearance with a rounded and beveled front and a rear that is pointed and flush with the stock. Hammer is dark over most of its surface. There is a crisp eagle over a small “US” forward of the hammer and an equally good “HAPER’S FERRY 1819” in three vertical lines behind the hammer. Action is excellent. Hammer screw looks a bit large but is original to the weapon.

The wood stock is in very nice condition and appears to have been lightly cleaned. The only visible crack is a very small closed one starting at the rear point of the lock and running rearward for approx. 1.00 inch. The flat opposite the lock does not have any inspector’s cartouches. This area does have the initials “JHB.” The right side of the cheek bears the initials “HEH” while the left cheek is a virtual scoreboard of initials of prior owners. There are no less than seven pairs of initials. All different. These are all light and so do not really mar the appearance of the stock. The bottom of the stock behind the triggerguard appears to have a light “NY” stamped into the wood. The ramrod channel has several small nicks mostly located behind the front band.

All iron furniture wears a light patina. The buttplate tang has a good “US” and the side of the forward most front band is stamped with a number “61.”  All three bands are held by springs and both sling swivels are present. Rear swivel is mounted in front of the triggerguard. Buttonhead ramrod is present and full length with threaded tip but will not seat all the way into the ramrod channel. Something is blocking the channel near the bottom. Ramrod protrudes approx. 12.00 inches.  [ad]

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