SCARCE NEW JERSEY CONTRACT TRENTON MODEL 1861

SCARCE NEW JERSEY CONTRACT TRENTON MODEL 1861

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$2,750.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 1332-01

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A scarce New Jersey contract US Model 1861 Rifle Musket manufactured at the Trenton Locomotive & Machine Co. by J.T. Hodge and A.M. Burton, operating as the Trenton Arms Co. and the New Jersey Arms & Ordnance Co., though all their locks were simply marked, as here, with the date at the rear, with an eagle forward of the hammer and “U.S. / TRENTON” under the bolster. This rates very good for condition- complete with all bands, springs, sights, swivels and ramrod, and comes with its bayonet, largely smooth metal with just some thin crustiness on the buttplate tang from storage, the lock showing silver gray with light brown stains, and the rest of the metal a deeper brown, but with clear markings. The lock is sharply marked “1864” at rear, has a crisp eagle forward of the hammer and sharp “U.S. / TRENTON” under the bolster. The US on the buttplate is rubbed, but partially visible. The barrel is dated “1863” on the top flat and has crisp V/P/[eaglehead] proofs on the upper left flat and a sharp “NJ” on the lower left flat. The wood to metal fit is good, with the wood showing a deep brown with just minor scratches, handling bumps and dings, but with very good edges and a crisp script “NJ” in oval state ownership stamp in the left side flat in addition to its NJ barrel marking. The mechanics are good and the bore is dark, but not dirty, and has visible rifling.

In addition to some 11.495 rifle muskets produced on US contracts, Burton and Hodge supplied 5,300 on four contracts with the state of New Jersey- two in 1863 (1,000 in September and another 1,000 in October,) and two more in 1864: 2,000 on a July contract and 1,300 on a September contract. The “NJ” marks on the barrel and side flat on are clear, with the latter likely an additional, slightly later-applied state ownership marking in Moller’s opinion. The 1864 date on the lock clearly indicates assembly that year, possibly in a late delivery under an 1863 contract given the 1863 barrel date, but equally likely coming from one of their 1864 contracts since not only were they apparently sourcing parts from other manufacturers, but Moller indicates they closing down operations in Fall 1864 and thus they may have been using up older parts.

This comes with a matching bayonet, with good edge and point, some thin crustiness to the metal, but clear US marking, functional locking ring. See Flayderman, Hartzler et al., and Moller for details on the company and business dealings of Burton and Hodge.    [sr][ph:L]

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