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SCARCE JOSHUA AND CHARLES BARSTOW 1808 CONTRACT MUSKET WITH BAYONET

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Joshua Barstow and son Charles of Exeter, NH, signed a U.S. contract for 2,500 muskets 21 October 1808, with 500 to be delivered to Fort Constitution at Portsmouth, NH, annually over a five-year term. The Barstows took in at least one partner with gunsmithing expertise to help them and ultimately delivered 2,471 muskets (Moller; Flayderman says 2,375,) which was a pretty good record among 1808 contractors who, despite cash advances, were squeezed between a low, fixed contract price, rising prices for materials, slow inspection and payment, and other problems. The Barstows nevertheless delivered 275 muskets in 1810, 650 in 1811, 700 in 1812, 450 in 1813, and 396 in 1814. It is also estimated they produced and sold another 600-900 on the private market, which paid better and offset costs incurred in production for the government. As was the case with other northern makers, they patterned their muskets on the “Charleville pattern” or Model 1795 musket as made at Springfield in 1809, as distinct from other Springfield or the Harpers Ferry configurations. Most notable differences are the straight rear profile of the cock tang with rounded top, the triangular (or spearpoint) shape of the frizzen spring finial, rounded ends of the triggerguard finial, sling swivels screwed in place to the studs, and a top mounted bayonet lug.

This is a very good, complete and all original example of a Barstow musket that comes with a matching, though unmarked, bayonet. The barrel is full length, with bayonet stud and front sight intact, and all bands, springs, swivels and the ramrod in place. The barrel is smooth metal, showing a gunmetal gray with some darker gray stains and some thin brown. The touch hole shows only minor corrosion. The lockplate is smooth metal, showing gray with some darker gray areas and a little brown, clearly marked forward of the cock with a script US over a Federal style “chicken eagle” and “EXETER” in small block letters below, and “I&CB” behind the cock, markings that are thought to be an early style on their undated muskets. The buttplate shows brown, with some very shallow corrosion and a little turning to the screw slot. The sideplate is smooth metal and caramel brown. The wood to metal fit is very good throughout with nice edges to the lock apron and the counterpane. The wood has good color and surface, with typical small handling dings and scratches accrued over the years, along with some small chips at the tip of the buttplate tang, a short, narrow crack from the forward lockscrew on the left, up to the barrel channel with a little splinter off the channel edge forward of that. and a drag line on the left near the middle band with two short vertical scratches. Mechanics work well; bore is dirty.

The counterpane shows a depression near the upper edge just aft of the rear lock screw with a large “X” in it. This is the position of an inspector’s cartouche, so we may be looking at a marking removed after the musket hit the commercial market. (It may even hide some of the V/CW inspection mark of Charles Williams.) Most of the Barstow muskets delivered to the U.S ended up the hands of New Hampshire militia, with 2,136 going to the state from 1812 to 1817, and are thought to have been sold in bulk to someone out of state once declared obsolete. The “X” may also simply be a marking indicating the musket did not pass government inspection and went directly to the commercial market: we note there is no barrel proof visible. Muskets sold on the commercial market might end up in the hands of militia companies or in arms chests aboard privateers, many of whom sailed from Portsmouth. We note a May 1813 NH newspaper advertisement for, “25 stand of muskets of the Exeter Manufactory.”

The 1808 contract muskets were produced to fulfill the government’s obligations under the 1808 militia act to supply arms to state forces, with the idea of reserving Springfield and Harpers Ferry production for central government use. They show variations as a class due to different makers and even extant Barstow muskets on their own show interesting variations not only markings, but in some matters of configuration like barrel length from their use of subcontracted or purchased parts. For further reading we recommend George Cooper’s ASAC article on the Barstows. This would make a good addition to a collection of War of 1812 arms, New England or even just New Hampshire made arms, and the possibility of a privateer connection has a special allure. [sr] [ph:L]

DISCLAIMER: All firearms are sold as collector's items only - we do not accept responsibility as to the shooting safety or reliability of any antique firearm. All firearms are described as accurately as possible, given the restraints of a catalog listing length. We want satisfied customers & often "under" describe the weapons. Any city or state regulations regarding owning antique firearms are the responsibility of the purchaser. All firearms are "mechanically perfect" unless noted, but again, are NOT warranted as safe to fire!

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