Mystery Musket. Any ideas what it is?
- Thread starter Mildman
- Start date
Mystery Gun
Mildman,
The hammer, curved base on the lockplate and triggerguard with the shallow rear all look German or Bavarian but I cannot find any matches for the right angled plate opposite the lock (that plate is usually a graceful curve on German and Bavarian muskets). The barrelbands are the type usually associated with pre-war flintlocks and the bolster sure looks like a conversion.
I'll keep looking for a match for the plate, but it looks to me to be an arsenal conversion of an German/Bavarian pre-war flintlock.
Just a humble opinion,
TomH
Mildman,
The hammer, curved base on the lockplate and triggerguard with the shallow rear all look German or Bavarian but I cannot find any matches for the right angled plate opposite the lock (that plate is usually a graceful curve on German and Bavarian muskets). The barrelbands are the type usually associated with pre-war flintlocks and the bolster sure looks like a conversion.
I'll keep looking for a match for the plate, but it looks to me to be an arsenal conversion of an German/Bavarian pre-war flintlock.
Just a humble opinion,
TomH
I think so too.
I thought this might be german or bavarian, too. I don't think it is revolutionary war era flintlock - maybe later 1810 's or after? But what do you think? Pretty strange contraption on the hammer don't you think-have you seen anything like it? I believe this was actually dug in Connecticut - but I don't see how that's any help. THANKS!
I thought this might be german or bavarian, too. I don't think it is revolutionary war era flintlock - maybe later 1810 's or after? But what do you think? Pretty strange contraption on the hammer don't you think-have you seen anything like it? I believe this was actually dug in Connecticut - but I don't see how that's any help. THANKS!
mystery gun
Mildman,
I agree about the early 1800 date, maybe as late as 1830-40. I can't see much detail in the shot of the hammer contraption, can you get a closeup. I have seen some German flintlocks with a "safety" device affixed in that area behind the cock but this looks different in the photo.
The engraving on the back plate looks like it could be militia rack marks (just a wild guess there).
The barrel looks pretty thickly walled, can you tell if it is rifled? Can you measure the bore?
It is a strange one - nice find.
TomH
Mildman,
I agree about the early 1800 date, maybe as late as 1830-40. I can't see much detail in the shot of the hammer contraption, can you get a closeup. I have seen some German flintlocks with a "safety" device affixed in that area behind the cock but this looks different in the photo.
The engraving on the back plate looks like it could be militia rack marks (just a wild guess there).
The barrel looks pretty thickly walled, can you tell if it is rifled? Can you measure the bore?
It is a strange one - nice find.
TomH
Norwegian M1834/41/51
Had to pick up this old thread. This is no "El Cheapo conversion from flintlock"! This long-gun started out as a Norwegian flintlock musket M1834, but was probably converted to percussion even before it was delivered from Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk. In 1851 it was taken back for a new conversion, this time as a pillar breech rifle with new sights. These rifles were fairly accurate at up to 250 m.
The M1825 was a 95 % copy of the Swedish M1815 and has a lock plate ending in a pointed rear. The M1829 came with the little rod on the lock plate to stop the dog catch (on the M1825 this was on the inside of the dog catch) and also had the pointed rear on the lock plate. The M1834 was the first one with the rounded end and the last Norwegian model to be converted to a pillar breech rifle.
You can read more about these on http://norskevaapen.no/?p=563
Trond
Had to pick up this old thread. This is no "El Cheapo conversion from flintlock"! This long-gun started out as a Norwegian flintlock musket M1834, but was probably converted to percussion even before it was delivered from Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk. In 1851 it was taken back for a new conversion, this time as a pillar breech rifle with new sights. These rifles were fairly accurate at up to 250 m.
The M1825 was a 95 % copy of the Swedish M1815 and has a lock plate ending in a pointed rear. The M1829 came with the little rod on the lock plate to stop the dog catch (on the M1825 this was on the inside of the dog catch) and also had the pointed rear on the lock plate. The M1834 was the first one with the rounded end and the last Norwegian model to be converted to a pillar breech rifle.
You can read more about these on http://norskevaapen.no/?p=563
Trond