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Exceptional Desirable Pre-Mexican American War U.S. Springfield Armory Model 1842 Percussion Musket

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:1,800.00 USD Estimated At:4,500.00 - 7,500.00 USD
Exceptional Desirable Pre-Mexican American War U.S. Springfield Armory Model 1842 Percussion Musket
The Model 1842 Musket has the distinction of being the first regulation percussion firearm manufactured in a national armory, the first musket manufactured at the U.S. Armories at Springfield and Harpers Ferry with completely interchangeable components and the last .69 caliber, smoothbore musket issued by the U.S. Army. A total of about 275,000 were produced, 172,000 at Springfield Armory. The Model 1842 musket was the primary infantry weapon of both the Union and Confederate armies during the first two years of the Civil War. It was still used in significant numbers by both armies as late as 1863 and was not fully supplanted by the .58 caliber rifle-musket at the end of the war. This Springfield Model 1842 percussion musket has standard bright barrel, lock and furniture and an oil finished black walnut stock. The percussion nipple is blued and the trigger is casehardened. The lock plate is marked: "SPRING / FIELD / 1844" vertically behind the hammer and "eagle" over "US" ahead of the hammer. The barrel tang is dated "1844" and the left rear barrel flat is stamped with the "V/ P/ eagle head" proof and inspection marks reading from the muzzle to the breech. There is a "V" stamped on both sides of the hammer, "M" on each left side plate screw head and a "C" on the rear of the lower tang. The buttplate is stamped "US." ahead of the upper screw. The left stock flat is marked with a "JAS" cartouche in an oval. Complete with a brown leather sling.
BBL: 42 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 69 Perc
Finish: bright
Grips:
Serial Number: NSN
Condition: Excellent plus, unissued. The musket appears unissued and retaining all of the original armory bright finish. There is some varnish remaining on the barrel which was probably applied some time ago to protect the metal. The trigger retains almost all of the original case colors and the percussion nipple almost all of the original blue finish. The stock is also excellent retaining 99% original finish and showing a few scattered minor dings, dents and handling marks. The markings remain sharp. The action is tight as new. The sling is very good with some minor age cracking, minor wear and tight stitching. An excellent, desirable and totally original Pre-Mexican American War Model 1842 musket.