[MarkVT]

My grandfather had an old musket in his basement for years. When he passed away I grabbed it, and have finally gotten around to trying to ID the gun.

I can't find any significant markings anywhere on the gun, there's a letter stamped into a few parts here and there, but no numbers, no manufacturer's names/logos. The barrel measures 42", 0.69 caliber, and the gun measures 58" total. It's a percussion cap firing system, muzzle loaded.... and here's the kicker, it's got a rifled barrel. Looks to be 6 grooves.

After a little research last night, it looks almost identical to the Springfield 1842. A little more research and I found those muskets were refitted with rifled barrels near the beginning of the Civil War.

Is there any place I can go to further identify the gun? Maybe to definitively nail down place of manufacture, dates, current value, etc.? How about refurbishing information? The trigger and cap mechanisms seem to be in good working order, and the end of the barrel looks clean. I think I'd like to shoot it if possible.

Thanks!

[Jim Watson]

Post pictures. Good, clear, closeup pictures.

Unfortunately, "almost identical to the Springfield 1842" may mean "not a Springfield 1842."

[MarkVT]

Ok, here we go (I've got much larger pics, had to reduce size for uploading, let me know if you want originals)

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/mciampag/musket/IMG_1121s.jpg
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/mciampag/musket/IMG_1122s.jpg
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/mciampag/musket/IMG_1123s.jpg
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/mciampag/musket/IMG_1124s.jpg
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/mciampag/musket/IMG_1125s.jpg
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/mciampag/musket/IMG_1127s.jpg
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/mciampag/musket/IMG_1128s.jpg
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/mciampag/musket/IMG_1129s.jpg
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/mciampag/musket/IMG_1130s.jpg
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/mciampag/musket/IMG_1133s.jpg
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/mciampag/musket/IMG_1134s.jpg
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/mciampag/musket/IMG_1136s.jpg

[Jim K]

I can't tell you what it is, but it is not a Model 1842. I am thinking it is one of the many thousands of European muskets imported by both sides during the Civil War, but I can't make a positive identification. It looks like someone cut down the barrel and then tried to fix the stock to match. The cutting was likely done long after the rifle musket was out of service, since the muzzle rifling shows no sign of heavy ramrod use, showing both that it is not the original muzzle and that it was not much used with the barrel that length.

Jim

[Jim Watson]

Ditto.
I don't know what it is, either, but I know what it isn't. It isn't an 1842 Springfield. The finger grooves on the bottom tang are a European style, and it is in good enough condition that Springfield markings would still be visible. It does not exactly match French, Austrian, Belgian, or German pattern guns I could find pictures of.