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LOT 3217
War of 1812 Era U.S.
Springfield Model 1795 Flintlock Musket - NSN, 69 cal., 44 1/4 inch round bbl.,
brown finish, walnut stock. This musket is dated “1811” on the tail of the lock and “1812” on the buttplate playing its completion around the outbreak of our “Second War
of Independence,” better known as the War of 1812, during which the young United States asserted itself against the British Empire, primarily in response to the boarding of
American vessels at sea and the impressment of sailors into the Royal Navy. The musket features a brass blade front sight on the barrel band, a bayonet lug on top near the muzzle, “US” and “P/eagle head/V”
at the breech, groove cut into the barrel tang for a rear sight, “US” over the eagle and shield motif and “SPRINGFIELD” in an upward curve on the lock, and iron mounts.
CONDITION: Good with a mix of dark brown finish and some applied brown finish, replacement small parts, weld spot below the priming pan, split rear barrel band, moderate pitting concentrated at the vent, short ramrod, and
moderate overall wear, and some chips, hairline cracks, and repairs in the stock. Mechanically functions; however, the cock has play, and the tumbler engagement is inconsistent.
Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
LOT 3215
Fine Whitney Arms
Company First Contract
U.S. Model 1816/22
Flintlock Musket with
Bayonet - NSN, 69 cal., 42 1/8 inch round
bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. Approximately 15,000 of these first contract
Model 1816 muskets with 1822 improvements were manufactured by Philo
and Eli Whitney Blake, nephews of Eli Whitney and under his existing U.S. contract of August 5th, 1822. Eli Whitney was originally to start delivery of his first contract
of Model 1816 muskets in 1824 but suffered from illness and eventually died in January of 1825. Prior to his death, Eli’s nephews had entered into a contract with him to
run the factory and took over all operations. The U.S. government extended the first delivery deadline until January of 1826. The lock with a removable brass pan is marked
“U.S/P.&E.W. BLAKE.” at center and “NEW HAVEN/1826” vertically behind the cock. “1826” dated barrel tang. “U.S./J.C./P” (James Carrington, inspector) and
“10” marked at the breech. Smooth, straight grip stock with ramrod. Oval script “JC” inspection cartouche marked on the left stock flat. “JA” inspector
initials marked in the stock behind the lower tang. “U.S.” marked buttplate tang. An “X” is carved into the right of the buttstock. George Moller’s “GDM”
collection mark is at the toe of the stock. Includes a US socket bayonet marked “S/55” and a reproduction leather sling.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining mostly bright surfaces with some scattered patches of light pitting, moderate pitting on the cock, and crisp lock markings.
Stock is very fine with attractive original raised grain, defined edges, some scattered dents and handling marks, a small hairline crack ahead of the rear
lock screw, a crack ahead of the lock, a filled in circular section on the butt, carving as mentioned above, and a crisp cartouche. Mechanically excellent.
Included bayonet is very fine with crisp edges and some very light pitting.
Provenance: The George Moller Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 2,000 - 4,000
LOT 3214
Documented Virginia
Manufactory Type II
Flintlock Musket Dated
1813 - NSN, 69 cal., 42 1/8
inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. These muskets were manufactured at the Virginia
Manufactory in Richmond for the Commonwealth of Virginia to arm their militia in 1812-1821. Virginia
Manufactory Type II muskets are described on pages 284-287 of George D. Moller’s book “American
Military Shoulder Arms Volume II,” and this exact musket is photographed on pages 284 and 285. The
lock is marked “VIRGINIA/Manufactory” at center, “RICHMOND/1813” marked at the tail, and has an iron
flash pan. “66” is marked on various components. “BAR M” is carved in the left of the buttstock. George
Moller’s “GDM” collection mark is at the toe of the stock. Includes a black leather sling.
CONDITION: Very good with mottled gray/brown patina and scattered light pitting. Stock is also very
good with scattered scratches, cracks, chips, and a repaired section above
the rear of the lock. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The George Moller Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3216
Maryland Marked
J. Henry U.S. 1808
Contract Flintlock
Musket - NSN, 69 cal., 44 5/8 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. William Reid
covered the history of these muskets in his “1808 United States Contract Muskets” article for the
“American Society of Arms Collectors” bulletin in 2004. He notes that concerns of renewed conflict with Britain thanks largely to British hostility towards American vessels
at sea relating to the Napoleonic Wars as well as the British arming and supplying various Native American groups on the frontier that were hostile to the United States. Thus, in April 1808, Congress approved
the purchase of muskets from contractors to supply the state militias. Nineteen different gunmakers were contracted to supply 85,200 muskets. William Henry, Jr. of Nazareth, Pennsylvania and his brother John Joseph of
Philadelphia were contracted for 10,000 muskets. Like most of the other contractors, they did not complete their full contracted amount and only delivered around 4,500. The Henry muskets were based on the Harpers Ferry 1795
pattern. A brass front sight is mounted on the rear strap of the front barrel band, and the bayonet lug is on the bottom of the barrel. A proof with a raised eagle head over “P” is stamped at the breech end of the barrel. The lock
plate is marked “J. HENRY/ PHILA.” vertically behind the cock, and “eagle/ U.S.” at center and has an integral rounded priming pan. The trigger guard has pointed finials, and an “H” is marked inside the trigger guard bow. The smooth
straight grip stock is branded “MARYLAND” on the underside ahead of the trigger guard indicating this musket was designated for the Maryland militia, and an illegible inspector’s cartouche is on the left flat. The button head
ramrod is correct. The black leather sling is a reproduction. The lock is in its original flintlock configuration with “Z” and “Q” assembly marks on all parts and screws (except springs) external and internal.
CONDITION: Good with the metal cleaned and displaying mostly silver-gray patina and some light brown patina, faint pitting, some worn markings, and moderate wear. The sanded/refinished stock has some minor scratches and
dents, partially worn away Maryland marking, and faint markings on the left flat. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
As pictured & described in
American Military Shoulder
Arms, Vol II by Moller
144