Just 4,000 of these muskets were made at Springfield from 1851 to 1853 and almost all were sent to states to arm their military schools, including two or three-hundred dated 1851 that were sent to Virginia for use at V.M.I., specifically on the orders of President Zachary Taylor. It is known that several hundred still in government hands were rifled in 1857. This one is in its original smooth-bore configuration.

Made along the same lines as the Model 1841 cadet musket, these muskets look like slightly scaled down 1842-pattern muskets, but are .57 Caliber and use the smaller 1847 musketoon pattern lock. This one has sharp lock plate markings: “Springfield 1853” in three lines behind the hammer and a crisp Springfield eagle over a US forward of the hammer. The barrel shows the correct “V / P/ eaglehead” barrel proof and the breechplug tang is dated 1853, matching the lock. All bands, springs, swivels and the rod are in place. The mechanics are good.

The metal is smooth and in the bright, as it was issued, and as would be expected in a military school gun, where “spit and polish” was prized. The buttplate, which would be less subject to inspection and more subject to moisture from resting on the ground, shows some scattered pits and dark spots. As is also natural on cadet guns, the wood shows various light scratches, marks and dings overall on the flat surfaces, from generations of cadets drilling and learning how to handle them. The finish and color overall, however, is quite good as are the edges around the lock, barrel and ramrod channel.

This is a scarce U.S. regulation percussion musket in very good condition that would fill out a martial arms collection. It is also an interesting example of the arms with which many future soldiers would have learned the basics. Some at southern schools may also have been drafted for field use, if not in the hands of cadets like V.M.I. at New Market, in the hands of southern militia desperately in need of arms at the beginning of the war.  [sr]

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