This antique European musket is commonly called the Potsdam musket, after the most common city of origin. This specific example was made at the Danzig arsenal. Made as a flintlock musket for the Napoleonic wars, the Europeans saw a marvelous profit opportunity, and sold thousands of these to the Union, during the 1860s. We find a number of these in Minnesota, where they were probably issued or sold cheaply, to help defend against the Sioux Indian Uprising. Converted to percussion post 1839 this musket has the classic massive percussion hammer and European style forged snail bolster.

The tapered round 41" barrel is smooth bored in .72 caliber. We have seen examples of these muskets by a number of different makers, with bores ranging from .69 to .72 caliber. The bore condition is dark with a pitted texture. The front sight is integral to the front barrel band. The rear sight is mounted on the tang behind the breech end of the barrel. The tang bolt is missing. The barrel has a silvery gray patina with a heavy texture at the breech from corrosive antique percussion caps. The breech end of the barrel is marked with proof marks including FW and 1827 on the off flat of the barrel, the side flat has 73B. The tapered flat at the breech end is also marked 125.

Stocked in beech, the stock was sanded long ago removing any original cartouche marks. As the stock has dried it has developed small cracks along the grain. The lower lock panel has large chip missing. It has been covered with finish, so it must have been missing before refinishing. The brass furniture has a nice mellow patina. The comb of the buttplate is stamped 5C over I. G.L.R., possibly 5th Company 1 Garde-Landwehr-Regiment. From above a section of the comb has been cut out or scooped away; this is a common feature on early French muskets which in turn influenced the arms of many other European countries. Our bottom view shows the rounded toe of the military buttstock, and the brass triggerguard. The scalloped end finials of the triggerguard match the buttplate's comb extension. The rear sling swivel is missing as is the ramrod. A military style brass sideplate is inlet flush into the stock, to accept the two lock bolts, both lock bolts are modern plated replacement bolts.

The large lock plate is a classic shape which resembles American musket lock plates of 1816 - 1840 vintage. The pan has been removed, and a forged bolster fits in its place. The big percussion hammer instantly identifies this gun as a Potsdam style European musket. The lock plate and hammer have acquired a brown patina, the sign of age and wear. The lock plate is marked Danzig over 1825 in stylized script. The nipple is plugged.

Add this antique musket to your collection, it is a representative example of European firearms and those armaments secured for use at the beginning of the American Civil War. 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.