Found MUSKET in thrift store.

[Patrick Chadwick]

OK, revised opinion. If it was manufactured as percussion, then the marking on the bolster must be an acceptance crown plus two inspectors stamps. Yes?No?Maybe?

[DaveN]

My friend who has seen his share of firearms and actually refurbished the door (for the lack of the correct term) on the right side of stock, in about 20 mins, to make it the right length, says this is all made at the same time and not converted. Once I have enough info on what is best for this rifle (complete refinish/clean it up or leave it as is) then it's off to the races.
Once again all opinions accepted.

[Doug Rammel]

Patrick

The marks do seem to be acceptance stamps. Along with the numbers stamped on the parts, It seems to be a contract Jaeger. Perhaps for a militia group.

The Jaegers I have examined in George Shumway's booth at the NMLRA were much fancier and marked with the maker's name and date of manufacture. This one seems plain by comparison.

[gew8805]

For heaven's sake do NOT over clean or (especially) refinish it!

Now that I have said that, I have to say that there has been some interesting and not unfounded speculation about this gun so far. It is not German and most especially, it has no British connection in it’s manufacture, use or design at all. It is rare, both here and in it’s country of origin where it is considered highly collectible and a desired item for arms collectors. So please resist the temptation to make any modifications to it. You might want to use a lightly dampened rag to wipe off years of accumulated dirt from the stock, furniture, barrel and lock and lightly oil the barrel and lock but, unless you have years of experience restoring antique firearms (or just don’t care - and I know you do) please do not try to refinish the gun. Don’t even be tempted to polish the brass. Too bad some foolish person decided to turn it into a lamp - probably in the late '40s or the '50s when people did things like that - but a proper bit of work can at least get it back into proper condition for display purposes at least.

Okay, I have run on long enough now and I apologize for that. What you have is a Norwegian M1821/41/51 Jäger rifle made on Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk, the “K” marks on the lock indicate it’s manufacture there. A link to a Norwegian collector’s website showing this gun is here:

M1821/41/51 Kongsberg jäger rifle Norwegian military small-arms

Below is a link to another Norwegian site that more plainly shows a better view of a Kongsberg modified flintlock musket (M1774/41/51) with very similar markings, again indicating that the work was done there:

http://www.gammlevaapen.net/side42.html

Hope all of this helps DaveN, you are a very lucky guy and I wish I had been hanging around outside that store when someone dropped it off. How did it get to this country? These guns were never imported into this country in any quantity so it is likely was brought back by a tourist, maybe visiting family or friends in Norway in the post-WW2 era when all manner of things were brought back from all over Europe at very cheap prices and used for home decoration to show that they had "been there and done that".

[DaveN]

This is the most accurate info to date. Thank you. The brass on the 1774 looks more like mine( diff but plate)but I could not tell if the stock had the hatch and the barrel protruded more on the 1774, my barrel is more like the 1821. Are these numbers indicative of the date of around when it was made? To the point, when was it made? Also rest assure I will not refinish though the 7 screw wholes will be repaired by a pro.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Congratulations and thanks gew8805 ! That was a brilliant piece of detective work, and shows that there is an enormous amount of know-how/when/where available, if one can discover it.

[gew8805]

DaveN, I am glad it helped. I don't think that there is any doubt that you have the M1821/41/51, the M1774/41/51 started life as a smoothbore, flintlock musket and yours has always been a rifle. As far as the numbers, the “566” numbers are batch or what we call serial numbers which were used to assure that the correct parts stayed together during construction and during later reconditioning/repair - these guns were, of course, far from interchangeable. These numbers could indicate when the gun was made IF Kngsberg kept records like that. Each gun received it’s own number during manufacture and individual parts were numbered to match. The number “581” (or whatever it actually is) is most likely a part of it’s issued regimental identity. The full regimental is “OJR H No.581 “ with “OJR” identifying the actual regiment by title, maybe the Colonel’s name or a locality’s name represented by the “OJ” with “R” signifying “Regiment” (we’ll call it the OJ Regiment) and the “H” is probably the company letter while “581” (or whatever it actually is) is the accountability number that in the records kept on the company level that would have been used to identify which soldier the gun was issued to. That soldier would be responsible for the gun’s care and keeping it in good condition plus it would show who lost it or misplaced it if found somewhere it shouldn’t have been. It would be read "Weapon number 581, H Co., the OJ Regiment".

[DaveN]

I have learned a lot from all and many thanks. The burning question and one that will probably be answered at the Melbourne,Fl. gun show Sat is what is the value(I know it's ruff
and I plan on filling the holes made by the lamp fool but other wise leaving it the way it is.
I just want to snicker and maybe laugh out loud when they throw out their numbers.

[gew8805]

Very difficult to say since very few if any of the dealers will have the slightest idea what it is. Condition, which is really not too bad, will put some off. And finally, most will want to be conservative with their estimates due to the fact that the estimate may come back on them - "Hey, you said it is worth $X, so it's for swale at that price..." Honest dealers (the majority despite what some say) will likely give a valuation at about 50% - 60% of what they think they can sell it for, they do have to make a living.

Another option is contacting the owner of the website listed above in my first post, he is very knowledgeable and speaks excellent English. Of course if he cares to comment that would be a European price.

[DaveN]

Went to the show. The gentleman who I wanted to see wasn't there. many people asked and some followed, and when I encountered the ones behind the tables said, "it's a wall hanger". A pause was followed by how much do you want for it. To those I felt were playing the game I said " I got a nice wall at home to hang it on". I had two who thought it was wonderful and apart from getting 1 matching screw and filling 7 small screw holes made by the lamp guy I plan on keeping it in the family. One guy said I should have it made like new but I trust my friends here on milsurps. Thanks to all and good night.