Need some honest thoughts on a Harper's Ferry...

A Model 1803 Harpers Ferry would be a .54 caliber rifle and have an octagon to round (OTR) barrel between 32" to 36". Since I see a round barrel at the breech, you most likely have a Model 1795 Harpers Ferry Flintlock musket, 69 caliber smoothbore. Barrel would originally be about 42" to 45". All the Model 1795 muskets made by Springfield, Harpers Ferry, and numerous contractors, are based on the design features of the French Charleville Model 1763.

The two faint proofs to the right of "OHIO" would be the View Proof (Visual Inspection) and Barrel Proof (Barrel strength proved safe with double load fired). The "OHIO" stamp is known as a surcharge. Since it is not as faint as the other stamps, its possible it identifies the possession by the state of Ohio for its national guard or militia units later on in the 19th century. Many regiments in both the North and South found themselves engaged in battle with both the Model 1795 and Model 1816 flintlock muskets, even into 1863.


It was quite common to have both the barrel and forearm cut to a "shotgun-style" smoothbore. Francis Bannerman bought thousands and thousands of surplus military muskets after the Civil War at scrap value and hacked off barrel and forearm to sell to farmers for $2 - $3. Others may chime in here to give another possibility, but the last year for the type III & type IV muskets at Harpers Ferry was 1815. A working 1795 flintlock lock is worth $650.00 alone. Hope this helps.

Its worth about $800 as it sits. I would buy that and send it to one of my favorite firearms restorers and he would "stretch" the barrel by welding another section of a scrap 1795 barrel to make it full length of 42" or 45". Then, he would custom-make, using new wood, the remaining forearm that is missing, add a couple of original barrel bands, and bring it back to original issue specs for about $700.

I sent you a Private Message" (Conversation). Thanks.

What we have here is an early 19th-century "sporterizing" of a long musket. Not a Harpers Ferry rifle.

As it stands, the main value is in the lock and other fittings. (In other words, as a source of parts.) In my opinion, it's not worth an extensive "restoration," which in the end would be trying to make it something that it's not. The damage has been done, and it's best to accept that.

Beautiful M1803!

Did anyone notice the crack across from the hammer on top?

Beautiful!
If only it could talk....

Gaucho Gringo said:

Did anyone notice the crack across from the hammer on top?

Click to expand...

I looked again, but I don't see what you're referring to. The flint is wrapped in sheet lead, and maybe the intersection of that with the top jaw looks like a "crack."

The lock looks like it's in really fine condition, at least externally.

It is on the opposite side from the hammer with the wood in the middle.

Appears to be a crack, could be an old scratch mark.

Gaucho Gringo said:

It is on the opposite side from the hammer with the wood in the middle.

Click to expand...

OK, I see it. Near the tang screw. Looks like a surface scratch to me.

the lock is stamped HARPERS FERRY1815 so pretty sure it is authentic along with the other three markings.
who knows when or why it was cut down, possibly right away maybe 30 years later. a cheap way of making a skirmish gun
or a poor mans shot gun.
first and last picture see the screw in the side of the frame. look to the left where the barrel inletting is going up to top of stock
right in the rounded corner, there is a small crack. could be scratch but looks like a crack
Pictures don't show lock armed (hammer pulled back) so can't see the flash hole. Maybe was filled by someone so it was a wall hanger look close and tell us what you see is it there or not

Looks like a crack

don't shoot it ! Lest it be like the $2000 dollar shot I did with a beautiful 14 bore Howdah Pistol cap lock one tipsy cold New Years Eve. Was not a huge charge, nor any mistake in loading with just compress aluminum foil , but what small recoil was developed was enought to crack the 170 year old English Walnut stock and turned a $4000 gun into a $2000 gun. The restorer I sent it to said old wood like that is usually on the verge of cracking and any shock can set it off- word to the wise !

here is an example of what it started out looking like prior to getting cut down:
https://www.collectorebooks.com/gregg01/usantique/Lot-33.htm

hope this helps
shunka

the people on pawn stars are always shooting older firearms, saying if it shoots they will pay more money for it. I wonder what they would say if it blew up( WE DON,T WANT TO BUY IT NOW AS ITS BROKEN) if it were mine some one would be wearing it up his rectum. eastbank.

I would buy it (depending on the price) to use in building a hybrid reproduction/original musket. That lock, trigger guard, and other parts look to be in fine condition. You would need a new barrel, stock, front bands, and ramrod, all of which are available.

I did that exact thing with an M1842 Harpers Ferry musket, using an original lock and furniture, a stock from Dunlap Woodcrafts, and a barrel from Whitacre's Machine Shop. (These people make excellent products.) I ended up with a shootable, first-class reproduction long before the Italian reproductions of this musket became available.