Anyone Know...........Lock Manufacturer

[1816Rem]

I recently acquired a Fowling piece that has a lock that has been converted to percussion. The Lock is marked "P.& E. W. Blake 1827 New Haven "". Also above the lock maker's mark is a mark I believe is "US". That may be wishful thinking. Question is Does anyone have any information on this Lock maker? Thanks in advance......

 

[Stoney]

P. and E.W.Blake contracted by the U.S goverment to make the Model 1821 Musket according to a book I have. No other information available.

 

[Tumblernotch]

What you have is a lock from a U.S. Model 1816 smoothbore musket. Some gun scholars refer to it as the Model 1822. This particular lock was originally flint and was probably converted during the 1840's to early 1850's. P & E.W. Blake were nephews of Eli Whitney, Sr. and were actually made trustees of the Whitney Armory upon his death in 1826, Whitney's son Eli Jr. being too young to take over the operation. Their names appear on the locks of Model 1816 muskets made under the 1822 contract made from 1826 till Eli Jr. reaching his majority. So, apparently your lock was from a piece from that contract. The locks of these muskets were marked between the cock and frizzen spring "US" and "P. & E.W. BLAKE, and behind the cock "NEW HAVEN" in a curve and a date, in your case, 1827, reading to the rear in two lines. By 1835, they resumed the use of the Whitney name instead of Blake. If your lock was converted to the Maynard tape priming system which many 1816 muskets were, it would have been done after Sept. 1854. Thousands of these muskets saw service in the Civil War on both sides, and of course were the standard infantry weapon in the Mexican War. Actually, I would also look closely at the barrel, if it is a 16 gauge (.69 cal.) and 42" long, it could be the original barrel, of course it may have been cut down. Look for proof marks about the breech. Springfield and Harper's Ferry Model 1816 barrels were marked "P" in an oval, "eagle head" and "V". I believe that contract muskets were marked the same (at least ones that I've seen)as they had to undergo the same inspections by U.S. Armory inspectors. These marks may have been obliterated by rust and/or cap flash. Also, there was more than likely the date of manufacture/inspection. At least on National Armory pieces. The bayonet stud on this model was on the top of the barrel, 1 1/4" from the muzzle. Sounds like you made a good find. Another thing about this lock, with the exception of using filing jigs, this was a handmade lock. The parts were forged then finished by lock filers.
I hope this helps you a bit. I wish I could run across something like this myself.
:thumbsup: :applause:

 

[1816Rem]

This confirms what I always thought, which is the experts are right here on this board. As a side note, the barrel appears to be orginal as it is 16 gauge and is 42 inches long. It was not converted to the maynard tape primer but with a off set hammer that wraps over the top of the barrel. The percussion cap sit on top of the barrel.

Thanks again.......Dale eace:

 

[Tumblernotch]

Dale, I'm glad to have been of some help. Apparently your conversion is the one many call a French conversion where the cone is screwed directly into the barrel. It was simple and all that had to be done was stretch the hammer over to fit it. The other two conversions were the drum type where they simply screwed a drum like we use on our longrifles into an enlarged touchhole and the bolster conversion where the breech of the barrel was cut off and a forged breech with bolster was screwed into the barrel. Most of the conversions I've seen have been the type that is on yours and the drum conversion. There was of course the Maynard tape conversion done by Remington. That company got the contract to convert 20,000 muskets, most if not all of them 1816 models. Remington's version of the Maynard system was the one adopted by the National Armories for the Model 1855 Rifles and Muskets.
Does the stock on yours appear to be a cut down musket stock? The 1816 stock is unique in that it didn't have a comb. The upper line of the buttstock runs right into the wrist area instead of having a comb like all the rest. Good luck with your fowler. You might find someone who can make a stock for you and you can buy bands and the other furniture and restore it to military specs. But even if you leave it alone, it ought to make a dandy shotgun.
:thumbsup: