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Posted: 7/24/2013 9:06:38 AM EDT
Customer brought in a nice old musket for us to look at, the problem being I am not that sharp on old military blackpowder rifles/muskets. I figured someone on here will know being ARF has such a vast array of knowledge.
The barrel is unrifled, .58 caliber. The front sight is cast in the top of the barrel band, and the lock plate and hammer looks like a copy of the 1863 Springfield model. There are no markings on the outside of the lock plate. Under the muzzle there is a "F 73". On the breech end of the barrel is the "V P eagle head" proofs, and on the barrel tang it is stamped "NEW HAMPSHIRE 1855" My tiny feeble brain came up with a few ideas. I was thinking it was a standard 1855 musket, but the barrel band front sight and ladder rear is not correct. I then thought it could be a 1860's contract musket made by Exter in New Hampshire, but again the features on the gun do not match up. The only other thing I could think of is a bastardized musket that was built by Bannerman from surplus parts. Any ideas???           |
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Posted: 7/24/2013 9:11:50 AM EDT
[#1]
No idea. With a bit of cleaning i bet it would look very nice.
Is it able to be shot without blowing it up? |
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Posted: 7/24/2013 9:12:50 AM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
No idea. With a bit of cleaning i bet it would look very nice. Is it able to be shot without blowing it up? Even after xraying there is only ONE way to find that out! 
tag for sucessful ID. |
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Posted: 7/24/2013 9:13:31 AM EDT
[#3]
Tag for this. I picked up a wooden barrel version of this exact gun.
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Posted: 7/24/2013 9:14:43 AM EDT
[#4]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
No idea. With a bit of cleaning i bet it would look very nice. Is it able to be shot without blowing it up? DON'T CLEAN IT!!!! |
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Posted: 7/24/2013 9:15:55 AM EDT
[#5]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Even after xraying there is only ONE way to find that out! tag for sucessful ID. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: No idea. With a bit of cleaning i bet it would look very nice. Is it able to be shot without blowing it up? Even after xraying there is only ONE way to find that out! tag for sucessful ID. The old tie a string to the trigger and hide behind a damn thick barrier method.  |
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Posted: 7/24/2013 9:20:05 AM EDT
[#6]
I am by no means an expert but the lack of any marks on the lock makes me think it is a Bannerman train wreck. YMMV, IMHO, WTFBBQLOL.
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Posted: 7/24/2013 9:24:41 AM EDT
[#7]
Looks like a Whitney 1855 Musket.
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Posted: 7/24/2013 9:26:40 AM EDT
[#8]
Smells like Bannerman to me.
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Posted: 7/24/2013 9:32:08 AM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Looks like a Whitney 1855 Musket. the lock looks right, besides being unmarked but the sight is wrong and the OPs rifle has three steel bands, not two brass bands. |
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Posted: 7/24/2013 9:39:50 AM EDT
[#10]
No cleanout screw, perhaps the nipple and assembly was screwed into the side if the barrel? Does it look like the barrel or lock area had a flash pan ground off at some point to convert from flint to percussion?
The sight on the barrel band combined with a blank ladder rear sight and a smooth bore leads me to agree, probably a Bannerman, but they are historic guns in their own right, Bannermans Arsenal is a fascinating bit of history itself. |
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Posted: 7/24/2013 9:42:44 AM EDT
[#11]
Lock resembles an 1842 smoothbore Springfield.
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Posted: 7/24/2013 9:42:47 AM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted: the lock looks right, besides being unmarked but the sight is wrong and the OPs rifle has three steel bands, not two brass bands. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Looks like a Whitney 1855 Musket. the lock looks right, besides being unmarked but the sight is wrong and the OPs rifle has three steel bands, not two brass bands. Whitney used a combination of surplus Springfield model 1842 barrels and production over-run locks from Whitney's earlier model 1841 rifle contracts and bear the same general appearance to the Model 1842 with noted variance of lock (unmarked), three barrel bands, wide iron forend cap, brass trigger bow with iron strap. Barrel is marked at breech "NH" or "NEW HAMPSHIRE"
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Posted: 7/24/2013 9:45:31 AM EDT
[#13]
Looks like a Whitney state or militia contract musket.
DO NOT CLEAN IT. |
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Posted: 7/24/2013 9:46:06 AM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Whitney used a combination of surplus Springfield model 1842 barrels and production over-run locks from Whitney's earlier model 1841 rifle contracts and bear the same general appearance to the Model 1842 with noted variance of lock (unmarked), three barrel bands, wide iron forend cap, brass trigger bow with iron strap. Barrel is marked at breech "NH" or "NEW HAMPSHIRE" Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Looks like a Whitney 1855 Musket. the lock looks right, besides being unmarked but the sight is wrong and the OPs rifle has three steel bands, not two brass bands. Whitney used a combination of surplus Springfield model 1842 barrels and production over-run locks from Whitney's earlier model 1841 rifle contracts and bear the same general appearance to the Model 1842 with noted variance of lock (unmarked), three barrel bands, wide iron forend cap, brass trigger bow with iron strap. Barrel is marked at breech "NH" or "NEW HAMPSHIRE" Agreed, lock looks like a 41 or 42, front end looks like an Enfield, no big iron nose cap like the American muskets. Maybe an Enfield barrel and stock with 42 Lock/breech? |
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Posted: 7/24/2013 9:51:28 AM EDT
[#15]
The breech end of the barrel seems to read "New Hampshire 1853"
The lock looks Springfield-esque and the nose cap seems Enfield-ish. I don't have a clue. |
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Posted: 7/24/2013 9:51:44 AM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Agreed, lock looks like a 41 or 42, front end looks like an Enfield, no big iron nose cap like the American muskets. Maybe an Enfield barrel and stock with 42 Lock/breech? Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Looks like a Whitney 1855 Musket. the lock looks right, besides being unmarked but the sight is wrong and the OPs rifle has three steel bands, not two brass bands. Whitney used a combination of surplus Springfield model 1842 barrels and production over-run locks from Whitney's earlier model 1841 rifle contracts and bear the same general appearance to the Model 1842 with noted variance of lock (unmarked), three barrel bands, wide iron forend cap, brass trigger bow with iron strap. Barrel is marked at breech "NH" or "NEW HAMPSHIRE" Agreed, lock looks like a 41 or 42, front end looks like an Enfield, no big iron nose cap like the American muskets. Maybe an Enfield barrel and stock with 42 Lock/breech? Take a look at this: |
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Posted: 7/24/2013 9:52:45 AM EDT
[#17]
it is weird that the lock is not marked in anyway
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Posted: 7/24/2013 9:54:52 AM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted: it is weird that the lock is not marked in anyway |
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Posted: 7/24/2013 11:06:53 AM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Whitney used a combination of surplus Springfield model 1842 barrels and production over-run locks from Whitney's earlier model 1841 rifle contracts and bear the same general appearance to the Model 1842 with noted variance of lock (unmarked), three barrel bands, wide iron forend cap, brass trigger bow with iron strap. Barrel is marked at breech "NH" or "NEW HAMPSHIRE" Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Looks like a Whitney 1855 Musket. the lock looks right, besides being unmarked but the sight is wrong and the OPs rifle has three steel bands, not two brass bands. Whitney used a combination of surplus Springfield model 1842 barrels and production over-run locks from Whitney's earlier model 1841 rifle contracts and bear the same general appearance to the Model 1842 with noted variance of lock (unmarked), three barrel bands, wide iron forend cap, brass trigger bow with iron strap. Barrel is marked at breech "NH" or "NEW HAMPSHIRE" That does look more like an 1853 on the tang instead of an 1855. OP, Does the bbl look sleeved? |
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Posted: 7/24/2013 11:13:52 AM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted: That does look more like an 1853 on the tang instead of an 1855. OP, Does the bbl look sleeved? Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Looks like a Whitney 1855 Musket. the lock looks right, besides being unmarked but the sight is wrong and the OPs rifle has three steel bands, not two brass bands. Whitney used a combination of surplus Springfield model 1842 barrels and production over-run locks from Whitney's earlier model 1841 rifle contracts and bear the same general appearance to the Model 1842 with noted variance of lock (unmarked), three barrel bands, wide iron forend cap, brass trigger bow with iron strap. Barrel is marked at breech "NH" or "NEW HAMPSHIRE" That does look more like an 1853 on the tang instead of an 1855. OP, Does the bbl look sleeved? Barrel didn't appear to be sleeved |
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Posted: 7/24/2013 11:35:53 AM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Barrel didn't appear to be sleeved Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Looks like a Whitney 1855 Musket. the lock looks right, besides being unmarked but the sight is wrong and the OPs rifle has three steel bands, not two brass bands. Whitney used a combination of surplus Springfield model 1842 barrels and production over-run locks from Whitney's earlier model 1841 rifle contracts and bear the same general appearance to the Model 1842 with noted variance of lock (unmarked), three barrel bands, wide iron forend cap, brass trigger bow with iron strap. Barrel is marked at breech "NH" or "NEW HAMPSHIRE" That does look more like an 1853 on the tang instead of an 1855. OP, Does the bbl look sleeved? Barrel didn't appear to be sleeved Interesting. The New Hampshire Good and Servicable musket was in 69 caliber. |
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Posted: 7/24/2013 11:39:19 AM EDT
[#22]
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Posted: 7/24/2013 3:33:54 PM EDT
[#23]
Bump for the evening pandas
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Posted: 7/24/2013 3:35:42 PM EDT
[#24]
Are you thinking of pawning it, or selling it?
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Posted: 7/24/2013 3:48:40 PM EDT
[#25]
Rear sight is from a Sharps M1853 carbine or rifle.
My vote's for a Bannerman special. rongorongo |
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