146 of 262 lots
146
Arsenal Altered and Rifled US Model 1828 (1816 Type III) Musket by Springfield
Estimate: $1,300-$1,600
Sold
$800
Live Auction
Arms, Armor and Militaria
Location
Cincinnati
Description

Arsenal Altered and Rifled US Model 1828 (1816 Type III) Musket by Springfield

American Civil War

.69 caliber. 42" barrel secured by three flat, spring-retained barrel bands. NSN. Bright finish, iron furniture, walnut stock. Single shot arsenal rifled muzzleloading percussion altered infantry musket. Lock marked with a {Spread-Winged Eagle}/US  forward of the hammer and in three vertical lines at the tail SPRING/FIELD/1838. Breech plug tang date 1838, as well. Breech with P/{Eagle Head}/V proof and inspection marks. Counterpane with two script cartouches, one illegible and the second the clear script EB/2 rating cartouche of Elizur Bates from the 1840s inventory of US flintlock muskets. A crisp script JS is behind the triggerguard, the final acceptance mark of Springfield Assistant Master Armorer John Stebbins. Retains the original brass front sight on the top strap of the upper barrel band, the lug for an angular socket bayonet on top of the barrel, near the muzzle, both sling swivels and a full-length button head ramrod with good threads at the end. Arsenal altered to percussion with the mating code A7 stamped in the wood to the left of the breech plug, indicating the work was done at Harpers Ferry. Arsenal rifled with three broad, shallow lands and grooves. The reverse stock is carved with the initials and marks J+ExH. The triggerguard tang is stamped PX10ARA, the meaning of which is not known and may be an old collection or museum cataloging mark. Only 681 US Model 1822/28 cone-in-barrel altered muskets were rifled and did not receive long range rear sights. 680 were rifled at Frankford Arsenal in 1858 and one was rifled at Harpers Ferry in 1859. Due to a number of issues the process was halted by the Secretary of War and further rifling of cone-in-barrel altered US 1822/28 was not performed. A scarce example of a transitional arm from the end of the flintlock and smoothbore era to the beginning of the rifled percussion period.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Condition
Good to very good. Bore dark and evenly oxidized with good rifling and some scattered pitting. Metal with a freckled and oxidized steel gray patina, showing even pinpricking and some light pitting . Lock mechanically functional. Stock very good and fairly crisp with strong edges and far more figure than is typical in an arsenal produced long arm of the period. Wood shows the expected scattered bumps, dings and mars from handling, storage and use. The toe of the buttplate has the white ink or paint collection number A1 on it.