Need Help to Cypher Abbreviation on 1816 Musket

[acavdragoon]

I picked up a really nice M1816 Wickham flintlock contract musket. I need some help to cypher a stamping on the barrel “CON with smaller underlined upper cased D”. It also has a name of a previous owner “G Hay” stamped on the barrel.

 

[Trot]

I know muskets were marked condemned in some way when they were deemed unfit for percussion conversion but not sure if that is what this marking is.

 

[acavdragoon]

I know muskets were marked condemned in some way when they were deemed unfit for percussion conversion but not sure if that is what this marking is.

Hmmm…. That’s rather interesting. I didn’t know they did things like that. Maybe that’s why it stayed a flintlock? The barrel is in really fantastic condition including the bore, don’t know why they would condemn it. The lock works great too, so I don’t know what their thinking would have been if that’s was the actual meaning.

 

[Trot]

I really don't know if that is what it is either, I seem to remember just a C marking, will have to research. I think as well, earlier muskets and contract muskets kind of got pushed aside when it came to conversions in preference to the newer and those produced at the US armories so one may have been condemned just for those reasons, not necessarily for condition.

 

[acavdragoon]

That makes a lot of sense! This is the first time I’ve come across this type of writing on the barrel. Please let me know what you come across in your research. This is very interesting!

 

[Grayrock Volunteer]

It is a Pennsylvania militia marking showing the musket was inspected, "conditioned" , after some kind of cleaning by George Hay. The marking reads "CONd G. HAY.", often it will include some additional information like the militia battalion or division.