I found this well worn 1863 type II Springfield musket at a yard sale this morning for $100.00.

Sadly the stock had been cut-back but thankfully not the barrel. There is some strong rifleing present but there is cleaning rod damage at the muzzle. A ferrule for the cleaning rod was soldered on and a wood plug stuck down in the cleang rod slot so it would stick out past the muzzle. I guess so it could be grabbed quick or after I thought about it to keep from hitting the barrel.. The lock is in good shape but the nipple is worn down to a nub. The bands are U marked.

The lady that had it (she looked to be in her 80s) said it had been in her family for as long as she could remember and that her Great Granddad had found it behind their house after the battle of Cedar Creek. The Battlefield butts up against the back of her property and the house is antibellum so it might be true.

I asked her if the initials HWR cut into the stock were her GGD's and she said no and guessed they had been on there when he found it. Meh....Who knows for sure but it's a nice story.

I plan to keep it the way it is as the old muskets left behind after the war served for a time to put meat on the table, defend hearth & home, and it is part of my area's heritage.

That is cool. Like you, I would leave it exactly as is.

Good score. That would be going over my mantle.

I ran a bullet puller (screw type) down in it and it does not feel like there was anything in there but a cob-web I pulled out.

It's shooting days are long over but it will be well taken care of. The old altered muskets are highy regarded in my area but not much of a much to collectors except for parts. Heck just the lock will fetch darn near twice what I paid for the musket.

This one is a bit odd in that the barrel was not bobbed as most I've seen that have come from around here have been. Even with the 40" barrel the musket comes to the shoulder very well and weighs a hair under 8 pounds.

Interesting find, last year I found one that was sporterized almost the same identical way. However the front ramrod pipe is a quite a bit more crude.. However the lock is smooth as glass. Paid the same price for it too

Will try to get pics later.

Thats pretty fucking cool, Especially with the initials carved into the stock.

Neat find. Go back and ask the lady to sign a paper attesting that her GGF (his name spelled out with DoB) found it by Cedar Creek. Also put the address of the house there. You may ask the rangers what unit was there.

Wherever you are in VA, your yard sales are much, much better than the ones around me! $100. Holy crap, that's a beautiful find.