A Rare Springfield Armory Model 1842 Rifled Musket. 58” overall, 42” .69 calibre three groove rifled round barrel with blade fore sight on front barrel band, bayonet lug on bottom of the barrel, barrel stamped ‘1858’ (date of the rifling conversion) & ‘V P’ over eagle stamp on the breech. Flat lock plate stamped ‘Springfield 1845’ on the tail, the eagle motif & ‘U.S’ marked ahead of the hammer. Nearly full length walnut stock secured by three spring retained barrel bands & standard U.S. butt plate. Iron trigger guard & two sling swivels. Iron tulip headed ramrod. With 1855 pattern bayonet & later correct pattern leather sling.
Dated 1845
First US regulation musket to have a percussion lock, about 14,000 were converted to rifles in 1856-59 of these 10,000 were fitted with long range sights, this example is one of the 4,000 that weren’t.
In good condition, lock engraving rubbed.