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M1816 Flintlock Musket

US Military GuyUS Military Guy Member Posts: 3,645 ✭✭✭✭
edited November 2014 in Ask the Experts
I collect US military weapons.

I don't have anything that goes this far back.

Any observations concerning this weapon?

http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=450756634

Comments

  • cbyerlycbyerly Member Posts: 689 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Looks like it would be a nice representative piece.
  • US Military GuyUS Military Guy Member Posts: 3,645 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by cbyerly
    Looks like it would be a nice representative piece.


    "Representative piece" is a VERY ACCURATE description of what I am looking for. The collection makes quite an impressive display, when they are all laid out and any additions will just make that even better.

    Current bid is far less than I paid for my 1842 musket, but I suspect it will go higher. [:D]
  • JohnnyBGoodJohnnyBGood Member Posts: 1,443 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Although it appears to be "untouched", for valuation purposes it's important to determine if the musket is in its original flintlock configuration or has been reconverted.

    Johnny
  • Spider7115Spider7115 Member Posts: 29,704 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It's a decent Type II Model 1816, with Evans making 5,000 muskets under government contract, especially if it's in original flint.

    I would probably bid on it myself but the seller is actually Numrich Gun Parts and they won't ship an antique gun to a resident of their own state!

    I wrote to them and asked them why and they replied: "We know it's legal. It's just our policy". That makes no sense to me.
  • US Military GuyUS Military Guy Member Posts: 3,645 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Spider7115
    It's a decent Type II Model 1816, with Evans making 5,000 muskets under government contract, especially if it's in original flint.

    I would probably bid on it myself but the seller is actually Numrich Gun Parts and they won't ship an antique gun to a resident of their own state!

    I wrote to them and asked them why and they replied: "We know it's legal. It's just our policy". That makes no sense to me.


    Interesting.

    I have asked them about their shipping policy to me.

    Thanks for the heads up.
  • gartmangartman Member Posts: 660 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Looks like good value for the money but they won't ship to CA either. If they won't ship a perfectly legal antique musket to me I will not ship any money to them for parts.
  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If 6 different bidders I would say that it looks to be a valid rifle of that model and type
  • gartmangartman Member Posts: 660 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Although this musket does not look like it has been monkeyed with recently, that does not mean it never was. Not enough pictures to tell for sure, but the butt plate appears to extend past the wood so butt was likely sanded down at one time. Also, the forestock looks thinned because the bands look a little over-sized. Still, all considered, a very good example of an 1816 flintlock.
  • Spider7115Spider7115 Member Posts: 29,704 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by gartman
    Although this musket does not look like it has been monkeyed with recently, that does not mean it never was. Not enough pictures to tell for sure, but the butt plate appears to extend past the wood so butt was likely sanded down at one time. Also, the forestock looks thinned because the bands look a little over-sized. Still, all considered, a very good example of an 1816 flintlock.

    I've probably owned a dozen 1816's in my life and I it's a pretty straight example. You can see how dry the wood is and the coatings of rust on the hardware. That old wood shrinks over time if it hasn't been properly treated and sat in an attic for years. That will make the hardware appear to be oversized and the bands loose. You can see closer examples of shrinkage in the breech area.

    It looks correct with the proper hammer and "button" ramrod. Most of the Type III models were converted to percussion for Civil War use but the Type II's were obsolete so it's probably original flint. Still, it will take a hands-on inspection to be sure.

    Of course, the seller has erroneously referred to it as a "rifle", which it is not. It's a .69 caliber smoothbore musket.
  • US Military GuyUS Military Guy Member Posts: 3,645 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks, everybody for your excellent advice.

    Now, all I have to do is wait for a response to my inquire reference shipping.

    If I get it, I will try and remember to post better photos.
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