Musket
Object number94.51.534
Made by
United States Armory
(founded 1795)
Made by
Springfield Armory
Date1820
MediumIron; Brass; Steel; Walnut
Credit LineTransfer from Carnegie Museum of Natural History, gift of Mrs. Thomas R. Hartley
DescriptionU.S. Model 1816 smoothbore musket with Belgian percussion conversion from original flintlock ignition system.
percussion lock mechanism w/stamped eagle device; wide loop trigger-guard w/ sling swivel at front; steel ramrod with button-shape end; no sight & blade front sight on terminal band; lug on barrel top for bayonet attachment; heavy steel buttplate at rear of stock; much of browning on barrel is intact;Dimensions2.5 x 5.875 x 58.2499 in. (6.4 x 14.9 x 148 cm)Inscriptions
MarksStamp stamped on lockplate: "SPRING FIELD 1820" with US and eagle device; inspector's mark "F" in script with "CP" stamped into stock
Historical NotesTransferred from CMNH; donatd to CMNH by Mrs. Thomas R. Hartley. This musket appears to be a U.S. Model of 1816, manufactured as a .69 caliber smootbore flintlock in 1820, and converted using the Belgian or cone type conversion to percussion ignition, probably some time in the 1850's;Label TextMore reliable than flintlocks, percussion weapons used a small copper cap charged with fulminate of mercury to ignite the powder charge that propelled the lead ball. The vast majority of Civil War small arms used the percussion firing system. Originally designed as a flintlock, this .69 caliber Model 1816 Springfield Musket was converted to a percussion firing system prior to the war.
Related institution
United States Army
Terms
On View
On viewCollections
1861
