1797 US musket conversion

[musketbal]

Hi all,
This musket was given to my father by his uncle back in 1955. It was given to my great uncle for work he had done for someone. He noticed it in a barrel and asked if the guy wanted it.
It has never been played with, only placed next to a fireplace. I was told by a few people who had looked at it that it was possibly confederate conversion. The barrel shows quite a lot of wear.

Thanks,
Brent Conner

[brown]

Re: 1797 US musket conversion

It is cool. I've seen references to drum in barrel conversions of 1795-1812 muskets being done in the South, but I've personally seen more examples documented to Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

Please Note: Lindsey, check your signature settings. I believe it might not be working correctly. -Tyler Underwood

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: 1797 US musket conversion

Hallo!

Under the 'house cleaning' done in the 1840's, this class of weapon was pooh-pooh by the Federal government and sold off. State armories typically followed suit, or were not so picky when it came to "serviceable" muskets. And definitely teh case for any teh Confederates were later have in the South.

As a result of the "purgings," many of these "4th Class" muskets entered the surplus resale market, and were altered to percussion often with the "side drum" technique sometimes by professional gunsmiths and sometimes more crudely by local blacksmiths..

Where it can get complicated is when the Confederates, desperate for serviceable arms and particularly percussion arms, had their armories do alterations to percussion or contract with local gunmakers or blacksmiths to do the work. I say "complicated" because it can be hard to know whether one has an 1840's/1850's general surplus piece or an actual CS altered piece.
(And of course "dealers" and collectors often make them all "Confederate" as that makes them more prestigious and expensive/pricey. ;) :) )

Curt

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: 1797 US musket conversion

Mr. Conner,

Thank you for sharing the photos! Great story and a great piece! The remnants of the regimental markings to the rear of the trigger guard tang and the "U. STATES." marked lock plate are great early features.

[mike44thva]

Re: 1797 US musket conversion

I have a repro 1802 VA Manufactory with the same conversion. The original has this drum conversion with an almost identical hammer. The difference being the base of the hammer is completely round.

I don't have the book infront of me (its at home), but in the Virginia Manufactory book, Giles Cromwell notes that the VA Manufactory didn't do any conversions "inhouse" when they reopened in the 1840's. However there were several guns converted by local gunsmiths here in Richmond just before and during the CW. I do not know if they did any conversions there when reopened after the start of the CW, that book is also at home.

[musketbal]

Re: 1797 US musket conversion

Hi all again,
Just to add a little to the back story for this region at the beginning of the War, and during it's "occupation".
The entire region known to day as Delmarva (Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia Peninsula) was deeply Southern in it's leaning.
One notable exception was Anna Carol who's family owned Kingston Hall here in Somerset Co. Her claim to supposed fame was that she was called by some historians as Lincoln's unofficial cabinet member. As a result of the area's pro Southern leanings, her and her father left the area and went to Baltimore never to return.
At the very start of the War a "rebel" flag had been raised in Newtown (today Pocomoke City). It was also noted "troops were being drilled. As a result Congressman J.W. Crisfield notified Federal authorities about the situation.
Gen John Dix then sent Federal troops under the cammand of Col. Lockwood for what was officialy called the Passifacation of the Easter Shore (Delmarva).
As a direct result a large amount of Federal troops were stationed around the area. Camp Upton-Salisbury, Camp Bradford-Pricess Anne (Lockwood's headquarters). there were also camps in Snow Hill and Eastern Shore of Va.
During the advance into E. Shore of Va, the Federal troops made contact with home guard confederate troops at Drummond Town and Oak Hall, where 800 confederates were facing 5000 of Lockwood's men. At a few other points along the retreat of the confederate's one last stand was taken at Eastville. There were no reported deaths during the "battles".
The 39th Va. was commanded by Col. John H. White also known as the Eastern Shore Refugees. He and an unkown amount of his troops escaped via the Chesepeake Bay to Va.
The 39th was incorporated into the 46 Va. Vols and served until their surrender at Appomattox.
The area in which the musket was found was called and still is Morumsco and Quindoxqua. These area's were with in the disputed sections of hostilities.
At the begining of Lockwoods advance into Delmarva, several of the Federal forces were from Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
One side note, a direct anncestor died at Pungoteague Warf, Va. there on the E. Shore of Va. while attached to the Passifacation forces with the First Maryland Eastern Shore Inf., Co. K ,USA. (Sgt.Benjamin F. McCready Jr.)
I guess the musket could have been used by either side, or neither side.

Brent Conner

[musketbal]

Re: 1797 US musket conversion

Perhaps Craig Barry could give some insight ?

Thanks,

Brent Conner