Description
This heavy full-stock percussion .69 caliber rifled musket was originally manufactured as a Model 1816 flintlock, smoothbore musket. It was altered in 1857 to percussion ignition with a new Remington Arms Company Maynard-style primer lock which replaced the original flint lock and a patent breech with bolster, nipple, and clean-out screw replaced the original breech. The Frankfort Arsenal made 20,000 of these alterations between 1856 to 1859. Most were issued via the US National ordnance and armory system in 1861 to many different Federal infantry units.
This .69 caliber musket measures approximately 57.5” long overall and has a 42” long round barrel. The patent breech has replaced the last inch of the original barrel. All gun metal parts have matching light silvery pewter to brown color. Furniture is iron including the “US” marked butt plate, trigger guard, swivels, ramrod, and barrel bands. Ramrod is the old button-head type.
The lockplate has the four-line maker’s mark “REMINGTON’S / ILION N.Y. / 1857 / U.S.” behind the hammer. All hammer/trigger mechanics are strong. The internal Maynard parts are all complete and operational. The musket has a one-piece stock of dark walnut. The stock has great depth of color and original finish and the wood remains in very good condition. There is some minor chipping below the lockplate and the long range rear sight is no longer present. There are two nicely stamped cartouches visible on the left side flat.
This is a relatively scarce Civil War era rifled musket seldom seen on the open market. It is a very nice collectible and displayable transitional military infantry weapon that isn’t present in most advanced collections.
