Metal detecting find.

[Old Sparky]

So this trigger guard and side plate were found maybe 20 yards apart. Along with the War of 1812 artillery officers belt plate. I'm certain the two gun parts came from the same gun because they both have a capital N and three slashes stamped into them. My metal detecting buddies seem to think it's from a Springfield 1795. And that would jibe with the War of 1812. I would love to know what the n and what the slashes mean and what kind of musket this came from.

 

[springfield art]

Where (generally speaking) found?

 

[Old Sparky]

They were found at an old abandoned Foundation deep in the woods of Western Pennsylvania near New Florence. I found a lot of military stuff from the war of 1812 and the 1830s and a little bit of Civil War. So apparently every member of this family served.

 

[hawkeye2]

A 1795 Springfield trigger guard would have been iron and much planer. That probably came from a rifle.

 

[64Springer]

I'm going to say no to the 1795 idea.

That little curved return back to the stock and being brass says civilian arm to me.

Rifle or Smoothbore.

The N with three slashes could be assembly marks. So it went back to the stock with an N and three slashes.

 

[montezuma]

That is an awesome find. Metal detecting is a hobby my wife and I enjoy. Her more than me cause I get to operate the shovel and she runs the metal detector. Would love to find something like that.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Looks like a rifle trigger guard. That’s so exciting to uncover relics of history like that

 

[Old Sparky]

Thanks for the replies guys. Yeah it would be a blast to use these in a build

 

[TDM]

You did great! Awesome find.

 

[dd832]

Sparky, I think you may have found a trigger guard & side plate from a Model 1803 rifle. It is generally recognized that 3 models of the 1803 were produced. Here are a couple of photos of the 2nd version:


It looks like the same trigger guard and side plate, but you can compare it for yourself. It is an amazing find though.

Mike

 

[Whitworth]

So this trigger guard and side plate were found maybe 20 yards apart. Along with the War of 1812 artillery officers belt plate. I'm certain the two gun parts came from the same gun because they both have a capital N and three slashes stamped into them. My metal detecting buddies seem to think it's from a Springfield 1795. And that would jibe with the War of 1812. I would love to know what the n and what the slashes mean and what kind of musket this came from.

Wow, you lucky dog. That's a great find on the 1812 officer's plate, that's a beauty. Does it still have the hooks? Have you looked it up in Syd Kerksis "Plates and Buckles of the American Military 1795-1874"? It appears to be #160, circa 1810. The book has it listed at a rarity of 8 on a scale of 10 Around here it's civil war stuff and 1812 relics a rare find.
Good chance your rifle parts were made just across the river from me at Harpers Ferry Arsenal. The pride and joy of my ML collection is an 1847 dated Harpers Ferry M42 musket. Good luck on future relic hunting.

 

[Notchy Bob]

Sparky, I think you may have found a trigger guard & side plate from a Model 1803 rifle. It is generally recognized that 3 models of the 1803 were produced. Here are a couple of photos of the 2nd version:
View attachment 234606View attachment 234607View attachment 234608View attachment 234609

It looks like the same trigger guard and side plate, but you can compare it for yourself. It is an amazing find though.

Mike

Yep.

If not an 1803, then certainly one of the various US military rifles from the early 19th century.

This is a terrific find, and I appreciate seeing these things. I would think these are military rifle parts, though, and not from a musket. How they got there is open to speculation.

Best regards,

Notchy Bob

 

[Rifleman1776]

Awesome find.

Amen, Bro. Agree. It would be an exciting addition put on a custom built rifle or rifled musket.

 

[Old Sparky]

Sparky, I think you may have found a trigger guard & side plate from a Model 1803 rifle. It is generally recognized that 3 models of the 1803 were produced. Here are a couple of photos of the 2nd version:
View attachment 234606View attachment 234607View attachment 234608View attachment 234609

It looks like the same trigger guard and side plate, but you can compare it for yourself. It is an amazing find though.

Mike

Yes that sure looks like it. They're definitely is part of the trigger guard missing. That sure looks like it

 

[Old Sparky]

Yep.

If not an 1803, then certainly one of the various US military rifles from the early 19th century.

This is a terrific find, and I appreciate seeing these things. I would think these are military rifle parts, though, and not from a musket. How they got there is open to speculation.

Best regards,

Notchy Bob

How they got there I believe is that the person who lived in that cabin served. That's why I found that artillery officers sword belt plate at the same place.

 

[Secesh]

So this trigger guard and side plate were found maybe 20 yards apart. Along with the War of 1812 artillery officers belt plate. I'm certain the two gun parts came from the same gun because they both have a capital N and three slashes stamped into them. My metal detecting buddies seem to think it's from a Springfield 1795. And that would jibe with the War of 1812. I would love to know what the n and what the slashes mean and what kind of musket this came from.

Both are great finds! I especially like the nice early militia artillery belt plate, very rare!

 

[smoothshooter]

So this trigger guard and side plate were found maybe 20 yards apart. Along with the War of 1812 artillery officers belt plate. I'm certain the two gun parts came from the same gun because they both have a capital N and three slashes stamped into them. My metal detecting buddies seem to think it's from a Springfield 1795. And that would jibe with the War of 1812. I would love to know what the n and what the slashes mean and what kind of musket this came from.

That does not look like a military trigger guard. My guess the trigger guard came from a civilian rifle.
They could have been from old guns kept in a house or barn that burned down 5-10-50-100 years after they were made.