Value of Springfield 1835 musket

mattyn

Picked up this musket and would like to know market value for it.

I was told it was a flintlock converted to percussion probably during the Civil War.

Marked US Springfield 1835 with an Eagle on the receiver and US on the top part of the metal buttstock. Wood is really nice on the musket no major dings or scratches.Rifle has a patina of rust on it I just spayed some oil on it and that is the extent of anything I plan on doing to it.

I will get some pics up of the rifle in a day or two.

Thanks,
Matt

dcinffxva

Hello, and welcome.

Without further info, and pics, value is going to be impossible to take a stab at, especially when you describe a 'patina of rust". Patina is the tone that old metal takes on as it ages gracefully, and rust is....well, rust.

What you have, barring some really strange twist, is a type III US Model 1816 flintlock musket, manufactured in 1835, converted to percussion. There were over 325,000 of these manufactured at Springfield, and comprise the largest production of any US military flintlock.

If it is in it's semi-original configuration, it will have a .69 caliber, smoothbore barrel, 42" long.

If it hasn't been cut down, had parts added/removed etc., it is probably worth in the ballpark of $600-$900.

There were some unusual conversions done that may increase the value a bit, but they are rare. Photos will be a great help, but at least you have a starting point.

When you take photos, make sure you look on the opposite side from the lock for the inspectors cartouches, and on the left barrel flat for the proof marks, which should have a V/P/eagles head.

greeker375

If they look like these your number is close to $2000 each...more rust, bad wood, then closer to $500-$700. JMHO

glabray

I have to disagree with some of what has been said.

On the vast majority of old guns, what is called "patina" is in fact rust. A smooth, thin layer, but rust never the less. If it has progressed to the point of pitting, bumps, and flaking then is is called "rust". Same process (oxidation) just a matter of the degree.

You should by no means scrub the metal down to white metal as has been done in the photos greeker275 shows. That is a sure-fire way to cut the value of your gun at least in half.

mattyn

Thanks for all the info posted already. Got around to taking some pics. So hopefully I can get a good estimate on its worth.

There is also a US on the top of the steel buttplate and an F on the trigger guard area.

Thanks Again,
Matt

Spider7115

The stock has been cut and sanded and the sling swivels removed. I can't tell if the barrel has been cut but it's had ramrod ferrules welded to it. It's probably more in the $350-$450 range as a parts gun or wall-hanger.

rufe-snow

This conversion was quite commonly done to U.S. muzzle loading military rifles after the Civil War, as they were obsolete as military firearms.

More then likely your barrel has been bored out to removed all rifling, along with the other rework done. It could be then sold as a utility grade shotgun. These were then sold cheaply to the folks heading west, to homestead and farm.

mattyn

Thanks for the replies guys. Keep them coming as I want to unload this rifle soon.

Best,
Matt

Spider7115

As usual, I agree with rufe-snow except that model was never rifled. It was originally manufactured as a .69 caliber smoothbore musket.

rufe-snow

According to Flayderman, small numbers of these muskets were rifled, at the time they were converted to percussion.

Spider7115

quote:Originally posted by rufe-snow
According to Flayderman, small numbers of these muskets were rifled, at the time they were converted to percussion.
Those were only performed on the "bolster" conversions and are extremely rare. This is the more commonly found "Belgian" or "cone" conversion. There is no indication that any of these have ever been rifled.