This very attractive militia prize-musket is decorated with fine checkering on the wrist, engraving on the barrel and triggerguard, and the addition of silver plaques including six eight-pointed stars on the forestock, a panel around the breechplug tang with wave-like scrolled edges and floral engraving, matched by a smaller one forward of the buttplate tang, a large, winged cherub or angel blowing a trumpet and carrying a banner on the left buttstock, and an inset oval plaque ready for an inscription on the right. Muskets ornamented in similar manner were awarded as prizes by militia companies in the 1830s (often for best shot,) which fits this one perfectly- a Model 1816 Springfield musket dated 1837 that was certainly new when selected for up-grade  as a prize.

Interestingly, the oval plaque on the right buttstock is not engraved and the musket has been altered to percussion using chambered breech and bolster without clean-out screw typical of work done by Henry Leman of Lancaster for the state of Pennsylvania from 1861 through 1863. The lack of engraving indicates the gun was never awarded, or perhaps had remained in the shop of a military goods dealer as a display model. In any case, Pennsylvania passed a law in May 1861 to gather up state-owned muskets from disbanded militia companies, which netted more than 16,000 muskets and rifles in 1861 and more than 22,000 by the end of 1863, either from disbanded companies or other sources (likely, simply turned in,) most of them muskets and most then altered by Leman.

This musket is in very good condition with nice color and good edges to the wood, which has a tight fit to the metal. The metal is largely smooth with the barrel showing a thin brown over silvery gray, though the chambered breech and the bolster show more brown, with some shallow corrosion from firing. The lock is a mix of light and dark gray and is clearly marked at rear SPRING/FIELD/1837, with some rubbing to the “S,” and with a Springfield eagle over US forward of the hammer, with the eagle rubbed but visible. (The wear to the markings likely occurred during the alteration.) The barrel is engraved with floral scrolls for several inches in front of the line defining the chambered breech. If any was lost in the installation of the breech it cannot have been much. Similar floral designs are engraved on the triggerguard bow. The forestock has three inlaid silver starbursts on each side and the breechplug tang is surrounded by a silver panel, covering its rear and both sides, that is covered with floral motifs, scalloped on the sides and topped with an arabesque turban-like finial decorated with broad leaves. The same motifs are repeated in simpler fashion and reverse order on a small plaque inlaid on the comb against the buttplate tang. The detailing on the cherub/angel is very good. The oval plaque, like the other silver elements is carefully inlet. The checkering was finely done and is in very good condition. The stock has a pleasing, rich brown color. It shows a few small handling dings and marks, on the sideflat for instance, and one small repaired chip near the triggerguard finial, but is very good overall and the ramrod channel has good edges indicating it was not much used. Mechanics function well; bore is dark and dusty.

This is a very attractive musket that must have an interesting story behind it. If it was actually issued out again by the state, it would have been a fortunate enlistedman who got it.  [sr][ph:L]

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