Looking to buy a REAL musket

[BillinOregon]

I think I would take the opportunity to just handle a few originals, then buy a good, accurate reproduction, but then I am on a "small beer" budget.

 

[Stantheman86]

I'm a shooter more than a collector these days, and so far my Pedersoli .69 Smoothbores have given me all the historical fun I can ask for without worrying about blowing up an original.

 

[SirFrancis]

When you read the books written about the development of these guns, it becomes pretty clear, pretty fast, that the earlier you go, the number of surviving muskets decreases exponentially. Conclusions are drawn based on surviving guns that can be counted on the fingers of one hand, in many cases. That’s not to say there may not be more out there, hidden away as family heirlooms or whatnot, but your odds are slim, of finding a legitimate one that is assuredly original and not well into 5 figures. Especially if it has real Revolutionary War provenance.

There were thousands of besses made for the Napoleonic wars, and relatively few of the earlier ones (armies were just smaller in the 18th century, and the fighting was on a more limited scale.) Most of the guns that survived and didn’t fall prey to rust, rot, bad storage conditions (much harder to keep a warehouse full of iron and wood objects in decent condition then vs. today when we have heat, AC, weatherstripping, affordable glass windows, ventilation systems, etc.) were beaten up in training, or sold as surplus, where they were cut down and used as affordable shotguns until they were no longer shootable. Back then anything that could go bang had some value and they just got used up, unless a particular gun or six had the fortune to decorate the wall of an English country house as part of the armory of a nobleman. Only a very wealthy family could afford the luxury of storing and maintaining guns that weren’t used for some practical purpose.

 

[Rudyard]

I believe the figures for India pattern muskets alone ran over three million during the Napolionic wars . Plenty still about but your conclusions are sound re likely secondary use and fate once deemed surplus .The Tower seemingly stored surplus muskets outside in the weather .Which seems bizaare to us but twas so . Percussion smooth bores apparently I see you are new to ML Forums but you've made a good start .I only joined last year many posters seem rather green to the hobby others clearly old hands . But its all entertaining .
Regards Rudyard

 

[Stantheman86]

This is why you can still find an original 1863 Springfield for less than $1000......quite a few were converted to .58 and .50 Breechloaders but many were never issued and left as muzzleloading weapons. By the 1860's- 1900s we were a little better at storing stuff and these weapons were completely obsolete by the late 1860s and were not used for decades of training. Also fewer were used up as cheap shotguns since by this time there were other alternatives.

Used to be you could hardly give away an original 1863 Remington "Zouave" rifle.

Supply vs Demand.

 

[Rudyard]

Only original Zouave I've seen was a buetifull rifle , fine quality ,Yet I gather they where bored out smooth for the Africa trade , But so where unfired Whitworth's. Time & place ,Supply & demand . Twas ever so.
Rudyard