U.S. Model 1842 muskets that were rifled and given long-range rear sights saw service particularly in the early Civil War when arms were in short supply for the immense number of new volunteers and later in the war when calls for an additional 500,000 troops had U.S. authorities again looking for arms. The rifled and sighted M1842 encapsulates a history of US arms development in the mid-1800s. The Model 1842 had continued the tradition of arming typical infantry with a .69 Cal. smoothbore musket, but improved it by using the percussion system and interchangeable parts. To bring it up to par with the 1855 series of arms it was then rifled, which gave it longer range and accuracy, especially when used with the expanding conical bullet, which also preserved the speed of loading. Not counting Model 1842s that were merely rifled, 23,683 Model 1842s were both rifled and given long range rear sights like this one from 1856 through 1859, along with an unknown number in 1861, judging by requests for rear sights. Springfield Armory is known to have altered 9,929 of the those rifled and sighted between 1856 and 1859. This has the rivet-fastened front sight on the double-strapped top band and indentation on the barrel underneath it, which are regarded signs of alteration at Springfield, and also an 1855-dated Springfield lockplate, the last year of production of the M1842. The barrel is dated 1853, a perfectly acceptable difference in dates on these guns since the parts were interchangeable and there was no need keep parts from a particular gun together during the alteration.

This one is complete, full length and has all bands, springs, swivels and sights in place. The metal is smooth overall and semi-bright, showing as a muted silver-gray with scattered thin, gray spots and was very carefully cleaned. The ramrod is correct, trumpet rod cupped at the tip for the new Minie ball. It shows a little darker than the rest of the gun and may be a replacement or was simply not cleaned. The markings in the metal are crisp. The lockplate is stamped Spring/field/1855 behind the hammer and has a Springfield eagle over U.S. forward. The 1853 barrel date and the V/P/[eaglehead] barrel proofs are excellent as well. The buttplate tang has a sharp “US” and the top of the heel is stamped “25,” a rack number or soldier’s number within a company, a nice indicator the gun was actually issued. Ahead of that in the wood is stamped “W G,” which could be a soldier’s initials or the initials of an early war militia or volunteer company- the “Washington Guard” or something similar. The wood has a tight fit to the metal and shows shallow handling dings and scratches, mostly on the buttstock and counterpane, with a few on the left forestock near the rear band, but has good color, surface and edges, with just some small chipping on the forward edge of the lock apron. The outline of an inspector’s cartouche is visible on the counterpane. The ramrod channel shows some light wear from use, but no large gouges or chipping from returning the rod. The screw slots are good. The buttplate tang screw showing just a little unevenness from turning. The rear sight is complete and is the correct M1855 pattern long range rear sight for these .69 Cal. rifled muskets with the side graduated to 400 yards and the ladder to 900.

The mechanics are perfect and the bore, while in the black, shows rifling. This would be a very nice addition to an infantry collection or display of regulation Civil War longarms. It would look great displayed with early issue equipment and cartridge box for the .69 elongated ball cartridge, but the government even went so far as manufacture 1864 pattern cartridge boxes for .69 caliber rifled arms.   [sr] [ph:L]

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