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LOT 1214
Outstanding 1832 Dated Nathan Starr U.S. Contract Model 1816 Flintlock Musket with Brown Lacquer Finish and Bayonet Formerly of the Norm Flayderman Collection - NSN, 69 cal., 42 inch round bbl., brown/casehardened finish, walnut stock. The Model 1816 musket was one of the most prolific firearms in the pre-Civil War U.S. Over 675,000 were manufactured at the national armories and thousands more were manufactured by private contractors. Many of these muskets were converted to percussion, and they saw use into the Civil War era. Nathan Starr Jr. manufactured 15,530 Model 1816s between 1829-1840 in Middletown, Connecticut. This earlier example has the correct floral motif below the date on the lock and has mostly standard markings and features. However, while nearly all Starr muskets are reported to have had the armory bright finish, this very high condition example has the brown lacquer type finish associated with the Hall rifles of the period. Rock Island Auction Company previously sold another example of a Nathan Starr 1816 musket with the unusual brown lacquer finish (auction 73, lot 199), indicating there were at least a few originally finished in this manner. “US” above a sunburst and “N STARR” in an arch at the center of the lock, and “MIDDLtn/CONN/1832” followed by a floral motif/star at the tail of the lock. “US” above “JM” (Justin Murphy) and a shielded “P” proof marked on top of the barrel at the breech ahead of the date “1832” on the
barrel tang. Oval script “LS” (Luther Sage) inspection cartouche stamped on the left flat and an oval script “DT” (Daniel Tyler) inspection cartouche on the comb just ahead of the buttplate tang. Includes a brown finished U.S. socket bayonet. This spectacular musket has provenance to boot, coming right out of the respected Greg Lampe collection who purchased it right out of Norm Flayderman’s collection where it resided for 35 years. CONDITION: Excellent, nearly as issued with 90% plus of the original brown lacquer finish, some general flaking, bayonet rub wear, and absolutely sharp markings and edges in the metal overall. 95% vivid original case colors visible on the lock. The stock is also excellent with distinct edges overall, some scattered light dents and scratches, a few minor chips, a small crack ahead of the rear lock screw, a minor two inch crack ahead of the left of the buttplate, attractive original raised grain, rich oil finish and exceptionally crisp cartouches. Mechanically excellent. Included bayonet is very fine. This is one of the highest condition Model 1816 contract muskets seen to date, very difficult to improve upon as formerly out of Norm Flayderman’s collection, and would make an excellent addition to any U.S. martial collection!
Provenance: The Norm Flayderman Collection; The Greg Lampe Collection.
Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000