This handsome, heavy, full-stock, percussion cap and ball, .69 caliber, rifled musket was originally a M1816 type 2 or type 3 musket altered by Frankford Arsenal with the new Maynard Type primer locks and percussion bolsters made by the Remington Arms Co of New York. Remington Arms contracted with the government between 1856 to 1859 for 20,000 Maynard primer locks and bolsters and delivered all to Philadelphia’s Frankford Arsenal location. The primer lock device was centered on the lockplate and had a kidney-shaped hinged door while the bolster / nipple was extra long to fit the Maynard device. A tape or strip of narrow varnished paper holding small dabs of fulminate of mercury was inserted into the hinged door device. When the hammer was cocked, an internal pawl rotated the tape and allowed the fulminate to rest atop the nipple.

The .69 caliber musket, likely contracted with the State of New Jersey, was rifled by the arsenal, measures 57½” overall in length and has a 42¼” long round barrel matched to a one-piece stock of dark walnut. Barrel has the stamping “N.J” on the left facet along with a proof, inspector markings and the tang date stamping “1857”. Stock shows a single government cartouche on left flat and appears never to have been cleaned. Edges still sharp. All gunmetal, including the barrel, has been cleaned and wears a shiny bright sheen overall. Longarm has no rear sight and no original colors show on the metal. Furniture is iron including the high spur hammer buttstrap, trigger guard, lockplate, swivels and barrel bands. Lockplate has the maker’s mark “REMINGTON’S / ILION N.Y. / 1857 / U.S.” behind the hammer. Barrel tang is marked “1857”.

Many of these rifled muskets saw Civil War duty while 600 units saw naval service. Two thousand muskets were converted for the State of New Jersey as this specimen was. Original ramrod with its button-head measures 42” long. Bore has strong and dusty, sharp rifling. Would clean to bright. Very nice collectible.

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