Original U.S. Civil War Era Springfield Model 1842 Percussion Musket by Harpers Ferry Armory - Dated 1852

Original item: One Only. The US Model 1842 Musket was a .69 caliber musket manufactured and used in the United States during the 19th Century. It was a continuation of the Model 1816 line of muskets but is generally referred to by its own model number rather than just a variant of the Model 1816. All of these muskets were 58 inches long, with a barrel around 42 inches in length.

The Model 1842 was the last U.S. smoothbore musket produced. Many features that had been retrofitted into the Model 1840 were standard on the Model 1842. The Model 1842 was the first U.S. musket to be produced with a percussion lock, though most of the Model 1840 flintlocks ended up being converted to percussion locks before reaching the field. The percussion cap system was vastly superior to the flintlock, being much more reliable and much more resistant to weather.

The Models 1840 & 1842 were made with thicker barrel walls, with the intention that they could be rifled later, however this lovely example is still in the original smoothbore configuration, with a lovely aged patina overall. The lock plate is marked with the correct American "Federal Eagle" / U.S. under of the hammer, and was produced at the United States Armory and Arsenal at Harpers Ferry itself, as indicated on the lock plate tail:

HARPERS
FERRY
1852

Many of these muskets were produced under contract, however this example was made at one of the Federal armories. The rifle side plate is thin and not bulged, as typical of the Model 1842 Musket. Previous iterations had had a more pronounced side plate with a bulge in the middle. This musket looks to have seen only light to moderate use during the war, so there is not extensive powder burn around the cap nipple cone bolster, though it does look like the nipple cone was replaced post war. We can still see most of the V / P / Eagle's Head proof markings, and the 1852 date on the barrel tang is still mostly clear. There are traces of stock cartouches, but nothing that we can read.

With all iron mounts this .69 caliber musket is in very nice lightly patinated condition, though the ramrod under the barrel looks to be a period replacement. It also looks like at some point the stock AND barrel were finished with a dark brown lacquer, possibly to emulate the "National Armory Brown" used until the mid 1830s. This has now worn away in many areas, though a good amount is still present on the top of the barrel and some of the fittings. Both barrel bands and the nose cap are present, complete with their securing springs. The butt plate is correctly U.S. marked. It still has both sling swivels present, one on the middle barrel band and one on the front of the trigger guard, and both are still easily movable. The lock still functions correctly, holding correctly at half cock and firing at full. We checked the bore, and it is still smoothbore, and was not rifled later, as many were, and it is in very good condition, showing only light past fouling and oxidation.

The metalwork overall has a lovely patina, showing a great honest used look, except for where the dark lacquer is still present. We have left it intact to preserve the history of the musket, but it most likely could be removed.  The stock has a lovely dark brown finish, worn down to the original red-brown walnut in places, and there is a bit of chipping near some of the fittings. Really a great looking old musket that would look fantastic hanging on the wall.

A lovely example of the last smoothbore percussion musket that the United States fielded, still in the original configuration. Ready to display!

Specifications:-

Year of Manufacture: 1852
Caliber: .69"
Cartridge Type: Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 42 Inches
Overall Length: 58 Inches
Action type: Side Action Percussion Lock
Feed System: Muzzle Loading

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