1842 HARPERS FERRY - RIFLED MUSKET - BULLET STRUCK

1842 HARPERS FERRY RIFLED MUSKET - BULLET STRUCK - SOLD

This rifle musket is a semi-relic.  It is a rifled 1842 musket produced at Harpers Ferry.  The barrel is dated 1854 and the lock is dated       .  It has the long range rear sight.  The musket is complete and has the original ramrod altered with the end concave.  About 275,000 model 1842 muskets were made at both Springfield and Harpers Ferry.  Of those about 10% were rifled.  This one has a deep brown color with medium pitting on most of the metal.  The wood is complete and solid.  This one probably laid out on a battlefield after it was damaged.  The hammer screw is missing.  

The gun was struck by a bullet.  The bullet hit the front sight on the top and it path was perpendicular to the bore.  The musket when struck looks to have been held vertically.  The soldier could have had it a position to load in which case the musket stopped the bullet that would have hit him the chest.  Or he could have held it in the position of shoulder arms (Scott's tactics).  when the bullet hit it smashed into the front sight on the front strap of the barrel band and broke the barrel band.  It also dented the barrel and almost completely collapsed the barrel.  The end of the barrel is tilted slightly up.  In the close up picture the front barrel band is moved forward about an inch to show the extend of the damage of the barrel.  When the band is seated on the spring the top strap is over the damage to the barrel. 

Being bullet struck is an unusual aspect and makes this rifle musket and unique piece of history.    SOLD