Went to the Amoskeag Auction today and came home with Bucket List #1

I went to my first ever gun auction today at Amoskeag, NH. I've never been to any auction before, and was a little nervous. My item was #681 of 711 today, and after checking in at 9:30 and inspecting my candidate, we played tourist in Manchester. We came back at 3:30 and my item came up for auction at about 5:00. I am still stunned at the hammer price. An original 3rd model Brown Bess from 1800 with a few replacement parts went for only $750 with an estimate of $1200-$1800. My auction had the same estimate and I did almost as well.

Here's a teaser pic tonight; I'll post more tomorrow as it's been a long emotional day! I've wanted one of these since I was in the third grade when a local militia group came to my elementary school during the bicentennial.

T:D

A 1795 for less than a 1000 buck? If so, well done!

Musket is also N. Flayderman documented. From what little I've read, it seems more of a M95 Type III than a M08, as it has a 44" barrel.

T

good thing you didnt stay for whole auction might have cost you alot more money. great buy on a nice piece.:super:

I was fortunate enough to work on cleaning one that was a family gun in Cape Breton Canada. It had a number of parts changed and the front wood cut back, but it still had a bayonet with it. It had been brought in after the American Revolution...and stayed put. Very nice piece you've found.

Morning pics.

T

This is model of 1812 Springfield musket? 69 cal?

1812 is the date of manufacture. Yes it's .69 calibre.

It's not a M12; the M12 had a 42" barrel. The M08 still had a 44" barrel that was slightly changed from the M95 which included moving the bayonet lug from the bottom of the barrel to the top to act as a front sight.

You can see the wooden pin repair to repair the wrist crack. There is a sliver of wood missing from the left of the stock by the front band. The main spring is too weak to cause but the faintest of a spark; I may replace it so I can shoot it at least once. The bayonet came from ebay at a very good price; however I have to have it reamed out a little as it sticks half way onto the muzzle. Sling is a reproduction. I'll also pick up a tompion, another flint, and a brush/vent pick tool.

T

Quote:

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Originally Posted by majspud

The bayonet came from ebay at a very good price; however I have to have it reamed out a little

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That's the thing about those bayonets, they all look so close to each other that you can't tell al the time which make or model it actually fits...

It is a M95/08 as the stud is the right size for the gap; it just sticks half way on.

T

First supply order came in; .69 tompion, original proper sized British musket flint, .69 brass brush, bore gauge, and a M1816 flint cap. Bore gauge shows a muzzle of .73cal.

T

.69 is a fair size chunk of lead coming your way, mind you in the confusion of battle in those days with everyone shoot'in and such stuff the battlefield after about five minutes would look like a pea souper in Hong Kong at knock off on a Friday.
Just my ignorance of your history sorry guys but did this pre date the squirrel .36 cal guns the likes that I guess Davey Crockett used were they called a Brown Bess ! do not cane me its just a question.

As for the weapon it looks pretty good for a 201+ y/o piece now what stories that could tell....TIA

The gun Crockett was using was a Kentucky rifle. Different gun. The Brown Bess has the distinction of being used for the longest time as a service rifle.

Well, according to my information, no-one apart from Majspud seems to have it quite right, so putting on my pedant's hat, here goes with my 2c-worth:

On April 23, 1808, Congress passed a "Act for Arming and Equipping the Militia". This resulted in the letting of several contracts for muskets, which are therefore "1808 Contract Muskets". They are not M-08 or M1808 Muskets, there being no such Springfield (i.e. regular military) U.S.Musket Model designation, and they were not produced by Springfield.

The magnificent example shown in this thread is of a "U.S. Musket, Model 1795", with the near-straight cockspur introduced in 1804 and the rounded, integral pan introduced in 1808. It therefore seems to be a Model 1795 Type III. The frizzen spring would be expected to have a spear-tip by 1812, but the one shown here has a slightly amorphous shape that makes it hard to classify. Describing it as an "M95/08" may be a handy collector's shorthand, but I do not think it was an official designation.

Excellent post Patrick. I am sure that both you and majspud are aware that the most accurate book on the M1795 military musket and it's variants is U.S. Military Flintlock Muskets, and Their Bayonets, the Early Years, 1790-1815 by Peter A. Schmidt. It and Mr. Schmidt's Volume II of the series, U.S. Military Flintlock Muskets, and Their Bayonets, the Later Years, 1816 through Civil War have information that give the reader information that has been ignored or is "newly found" on these important military arms.

"Bore gauge shows a muzzle of .73cal."

Majspud, if you are seriously thinking of firing that old banger (and I certainly would) then I would not rely on any gauge that does not measure right down to the powder chamber. Old muskets can have seriously "blunderbuss"-type muzzle ends, and so if you size a ball and patch according to a measurement taken near the muzzle, and try to load it, you may find that you end up with a serious jam long before the ball is seated on the powder.

So, unless you are fortunate enough to have a bore gauge that can measure down to the bottom of a 3'6" tube, I recommend turning up a plug to the size given by your gauge, screw the plug onto a long rod - and see if it can run down the entire length of the bore. If we were neighbors, I would bet you a beer that the 0.73" plug does not slide right down to the powder chamber!

You may need to experimentally reduce the diameter of the plug until it passes right down the bore. Dimension your ball + patch according to the tightest spot. If there is indeed some noticeable bell-mouthing, then use a thick, well-greased patch (I usually wet patches in my mouth, so in my case it would be "well-slobbered") to provide a "hydraulic seal" and let us know how you get on!

My presumption as well. Something's off about the gauge anyways; a .715 round ball for my 1849 M39/55 rifled Prussian .72 does not fit in the muzzle.

Can't do anything until I get the spring fixed. My source didn't have one. I'm going to see if my gunsmith can re-temper it with a torch.

T

Have you Lodgewood Manufacturing? He has one of the best selections of parts.

I just sent them a a request. I've their site in my bookmarks.

T