Original U.S. Harpers Ferry M.1840/42 Converted Percussion Musket with Socket Bayonet – Dated 1840

Description

Original item: One Only. The US Model 1840/42 Musket was a .69 caliber musket manufactured and used in the United States during the 19th Century. It is a continuation of the Model 1816 line of muskets but is generally referred to as its own model number rather than just a variant of the Model 1816. All of these muskets were 58 inches long, with a barrel around 42 inches in length.

The Model 1842 was the last U.S. smoothbore musket produced. Many features that had been retrofitted into the Model 1840 were standard on the Model 1842. The Model 1842 was the first U.S. musket to be produced with a percussion lock, though most of the Model 1840 flintlocks, such as this example, ended up being converted to percussion locks before reaching the field. The percussion cap system was vastly superior to the flintlock, being much more reliable and much more resistant to weather.

The Model 1840 and 1842 Muskets were made at the Springfield Arsenal and the Harpers Ferry Arsenal of John Brown fame. This model is marked on the lock plate with:

HARPERSFERRY1840

There is also an EAGLE over U.S. on the lock plate in front of the hammer. This lock was definitely originally a flintlock, indicated by the remains of the brass powder pan, which was ground off in arsenal during the conversion process. The barrel has faint P / Eagle / V markings on the breech end, and the barrel tang is marked 183, indicating that the barrel may have been from the previous model 1835 musket. All of these muskets were themselves evolutions of the model 1816 after all. Many Model 1835, 1840, and 1842 muskets were later rifled, but this one has been so converted.

In sound very nice condition the rear of the barrel shows the effect of powderburn around the obstructed nipple, otherwise it is in outstanding condition. The Musket comes with its original Socket Bayonet stamped U.S. on the blade, as well as G / 63 on the side of the socket. A fine example that could have been on site for the John Brown raid and very probably saw action during the Civil War.

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1840 – converted 1842Caliber: .69”Cartridge Type: Cap and BallBarrel Length: 42 InchesOverall Length: 58 InchesAction type: Side Action Percussion LockFeed System: Muzzle Loading

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