U.S. Model 1842 Harper's Ferry Rifled Musket

[btech]

An auction site is offering this as an actual antique for $500! Way too good to be true. Anybody see problems?

 

[dcriner]

What is the seller saying about the condition of the lock and the bore?

 

[btech]

This is what is listed:

This gun was recently found in the attic of a house in N.J. It is a very scarce example of this model which was both rifled and equipped with a long range rear sight. Only about 10,000 such alterations were made between 1855-60. Clear lock markings...\"1854/Harper\'s Ferry\" and eagle. Mechanically good and complete with original hammer screw. Has an excellent, mostly bright .69 cal. rifled bore. Black walnut stock VG+ with only small dents and dings from use and long storage. Has old varnish finish. A scarce example of a military longarm; used from 1854-65! NOTE: I REPLACED HAMMER SCREW AFTER PICTURE OF HAMMER AREA WAS TAKEN.

 

[Dphar]

Looks like a 1873 Trapdoor Springfield rear sight. Don't know when these came into use.

Dan

 

[varsity07840]

Is that the starting price or buy now? I paid $800.00 for mine about 10 years ago and it needed a reline job.

The rear sight is correct.

Duane

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

There are no photos of details in this post so impossible to say what the value is, $500 would be a very good price though for a scarce rifled version of the M1842. That is IF it is a "buy it now" price. I suspect it is an auction with a low starting price and will sell for considerably more, even with the missing or sheared off tumbler screw.

As far as the bore's condition? As Flayderman says, the bore condition does not have a lot to do with the value of an antique gun. Most antiques are not shot, especially those that are hard to find.

 

[Alden]

Bore is largely irrelevant on originals (except to increase the price). I have a defarbed repro with a long range front sight too -- looks like from a Krag. Beautiful gun I had to have and shoot .69 Mini-ball outta...

Something odd about the stock to me in the rear but if you need a '42 how much cooler than a rifled-musket could it be.

I'd say good luck!

 

[bpd303]

I suspect it will go for more too. Even if it was a defarb repro I would go for it between $500-1000 if there was an inspection period offered and the sellers reputation was good.

 

[anj4de]

If it is a defarbed repro the seller went through quite some expense to create it. To my knowledge all repros have Springfield marked lock plates. You can get H-F lock plates but they are costly...
By the look of it a very nice gun.
It could also be a put togther piece from the last century. In the 60ties and 70ties original parts were still available in good quanitity. I have an "original" 1861 musket that was born around that time made up of all original parts. Only things missing are the proof marks on the barrel and no inspector cartouches in the stock. It's a fine gun and shoots straight.

cheers
Uwe

 

[Tumblernotch]

Looks like a 1873 Trapdoor Springfield rear sight. Don't know when these came into use.

Dan

1855. Also used on the M1855 RM until 1858 when the two blade leaf sight was adopted.

 

[hobowonkanobe]

there's a shoppe in my neck o the woods that had one for sale @ $450. Usable and took musket caps. Thought about it, but... I was drooling over the Brown Bess Carbine truth be told.