Civil War Proof Marks

[drm2m]

Joe Bilby has helped me on several occasions.

These are excerpts from emails with Joe Bilby prior to my purchase of a Harpers Ferry manufactured Model 1842 Musket.

I appreciated his input before I moved forward with this purchase.
I had sent him many photos of the musket, and he was more than helpful.

The right help from the right people can make all the difference when deciding to proceed with a purchase.


I had the same help (following the review of many photos) from Bruce Canfield before purchasing an early M1A1 carbine…his advice was invaluable and very much appreciated.
(Shown in the two photos below.)









I had huge help from Jan Still and some other very savvy Imperial Luger collectors before I purchased a unit marked Luger Artillery rig....it was so very important.
(Shown in the two photos below.)









Many of the knowledgeable good guys are ready to help…if you ask them.

These are the guys that write the books.

If you request their opinion...the photos have to be very clear and "critical marking specific"...and keep the commentary short.

There is no greater waste of time than being asked for an opinion on the correctness of a piece with "out of focus photos."


A General Thought;

If you want to post a photo....look at it first....if it is out of focus and a shi*ty" photo don't post it...do it again.

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Joe Bilby and the Model 1842 Musket.


My question regarding the 1843 dated Model 1842 Harpers Ferry manufactured musket.
From a Civil War collecting context, would this model be a good addition to a Civil War collection?

David
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Absolutely -- widely used in the first two years of the war by both sides, and used by certain regiments, like those of the Irish Brigade and the 12th NJ, who preferred it, into late 1864. The 12th's Gettysburg monument is as much to the '42 as to the regiment. It is topped with a large sphere and three smaller ones, with the line "buck and ball."

Joe.

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This gun has the earliest lock plate dating recorded for this model….1843 (for a Harpers Ferry gun.)
-The barrel date is also early (although not matching) ….1845.

David
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Not unusual to have mismatched lock and barrel.

Joe

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These dates fall within the Mexican War period with possible relevance to the Civil War.

David
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Both, which gives a slight premium.

Joe

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The musket.

(Click on the bar to enlarge the images.)















Other Salient Facts;

Between 1843 and 1855 a total of 275,000 of this model were manufactured by Springfield and Harpers Ferry Armouries, of which 172,000 were turned out at Springfield alone. The bayonet utilized for this model musket was the Model 1842 socket bayonet, which was 20-1/2 inches long, with a 2-7/8 inch socket and an 18-inch triangular blade. The U.S. Model 1842 Musket was the first arm to be produced at both the Harpers Ferry and Springfield Armouries on a completely interchangeable basis, and aside even from this significant fact, holds a prominent position in the development of U.S. military shoulder arms. This was the first regulation percussion arm produced in the national armouries, and at the same time, the last of the .69 caliber smoothbores.


The bayonet.




David