The famous U. S. Model 1842 musket was originally made at both the Harper's Ferry and Springfield armory. This Springfield produced musket has a 1854 date on the lock plate. As noted in the book The Southern Arsenal - Harper's Ferry by Daniel D. Hartzler and James B. Whisker, this was the last smoothbore arm developed by the U.S. government and the first of the regulation infantry arms to usher in the percussion era at the national armories. Originally issued as a smooth bore, approximately 14,000 muskets were rifled between 1856-1859. Of those rifled roughly 10,000 were fitted with a long range rear sight. Originally issued with an armory bright lock, barrel, and furniture, all of which has aged to a speckled gray brown patina. The walnut has many handling marks and small drying cracks. The barrel has been cut down, and the bore is dark and heavily pitted. The lock has a very deep full-cock notch and we could not get it to release by pulling hard on the trigger. Weight is 8.7 pounds and the trigger reach is 13-1/4".

The tapered round barrel has been cut down to 40-1/2" long with a .69 caliber rifled bore. The bore measures .699" and is dark with pitting running throughout. The muzzle end of the barrel was likely dinged at some point and cut back to freshen it during its working life. A small dovetail is cut 5-3/4" ahead of the breech, along with a drilled and tapped hole that was once used to mount a ladder rear sight. The sight has been removed. The front sight on the top of the barrel band was filed off. The date, view, and proof marks at the breech are not visible due to the textured patina from corrosive antique musket caps. Forward three barrel bands hold the barrel to the stock, the rearmost pair of bands are single straps while the front band is a double strap.

Stocked in walnut, this musket stock has an arsenal style flat finish, not a high gloss. The buttstock has many dents, dings, scratches, and scuff marks. Small drying cracks extend forward from the buttplate. A 1/2" crack extends back from the tail of the lock panel. A crack runs from the rear lock bolt forward to the barrel channel. A large piece of wood is missing along the right side of the tang. The comb of the buttplate is stamped US just ahead of the screw. The buttplate has developed a rough texture from being stored on a damp floor. All of the iron furniture has developed a speckled brown patina. The front of the triggerguard bow mounts the sling swivel. The forward swivel is mounted to the middle barrel band. The metal ramrod has a dark brown patina and we were not able to remove it from the stock, due to wood shrinkage over time. A military style steel sideplate is inlet flush into the stock. The stock does have very faint cartouche marks on the side panel.

The lock has a very light textured aged patina. Note the markings found on the tail of the lock, in three lines it reads SPRING / FIELD / 1854, giving the location and date of its manufacture. The plate is also stamped with an American eagle over U.S below the breech. The thumb spur of the hammer is checkered for secure grip. This lock has a strong mainspring, however we note the full-cock notch is cut deep and we were not able to release the lock by pulling the trigger. The breech of the barrel is fitted with a modern stainless steel nipple that is loose in the threads and is removable with only modest finger pressure.

This Model 1842 musket would make an excellent display piece. Order it for a ten day visual inspection. You will be delighted. Else if it does not fit you, return it in unfired condition for same-day refund. Postage is your only risk, when you order any one-of-a-kind gun from Track, whether new, used, or antique.