Original item: Only One Available. The U.S. Model 1835 Musket was a .69 caliber smoothbore flintlock, with a 42-inch barrel and an overall length of 58 inches. It replaced the previous model 1822 musket, and often is viewed as a further development of that design. It was really only an incremental change, and many differences involved how the musket was produced, rather than the actual design. The emphasis was on making some interchangeable parts, and to use more accurate manufacturing methods. This paved the way for the later model of 1842, the first U.S. musket to have fully interchangeable parts.

The Model 1835 was produced by the Springfield Armory, Harpers Ferry Armory, and numerous other contractors. It was eventually superseded by the model 1840 and 1842 muskets, the former of which was originally made in Flintlock, but most were converted to percussion before they made it to the field. The 1842 was only made in percussion.

In the 1850s, many of the Flintlock Muskets in Arsenal were converted to Percussion, which was a much more reliable and water-resistant ignition system. This involved all variants of the Model of the 1816. This helped to standardize the types of ammunition carried by the soldiers in the field.

The outbreak of the Civil War in the United States created a large need for percussion muskets, as the number of modern firearms currently on hand was far short of what was needed. To fill this need, many muskets converted to percussion in the 1840s-1850s were pressed back into service.

This example has had most of the markings on the lock worn away due to oxidation and powder burn. We can see a clear 839 on the tail for a date of 1839, and there is a U.S. on the lock plate under the hammer. It looks like there may be a partial "HARPERS FERRY" under the U.S., but it could easily be something else, marked when it was converted.

The musket was later converted to percussion at arsenal, most likely during the 1850s. It was fitted with a new breech plug and breech end, incorporating a "built-in" Percussion Cap nipple and bolster to back end of the barrel. This type of conversion resulted in total removal of the original brass powder pan, and makes it look almost like it was originally made that way. The mounting points for the frizzen and frizzen spring can still be seen, though they are plugged. More simple conversions just inserted a cap bolster, but this was a far more refined and effective conversion. The original flintlock cock was replaced with a model 1842 Percussion Hammer, more evidence that this was an arsenal conversion.

The entire weapon has been fully cleaned to its very best display condition. There is a lovely aged patina on most of the metalwork, with no major pitting or other damage. It shows years of polishing and cleaning, with a light grain color, and some areas of the original bright finish. The lock functions, holding correctly at half cock, and firing at full. The bore was not rifled on this musket, and it shows some fouling and oxidation on the interior. The original cleaning rod is still present, as are both sling swivels.

The stock is in very good shape, with the expected wear and dents from service. There is a crack just above the side plate next to the tang, a common place for stock issues due to how thin the wood is in that area. There is still a cartouche visible, which look to read LS, most likely for Luther Sage, who inspected R. Johnson, Waters, Whitney, Pomeroy and Starr Contract Muskets, so this is most likely not a Harpers Ferry made musket.

A fine example of an older musket converted for service in the 1850s, and possibly used during the Civil War. Ready to display!

Specifications:-

Year of Manufacture: 1839 - converted later
Caliber: .69"
Cartridge Type: Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 42 Inches
Overall Length: 58 Inches
Action type: Side Action Percussion Lock
Feed System: Muzzle Loading

History of the Model 1835 Musket:

The War of 1812 had revealed many weaknesses in American muskets. The Model 1812 Musket was created in an attempt to improve both the design and manufacture of the musket. The Model 1816 made further improvements, and replaced the Model 1812. The Model 1812 had borrowed heavily from the design of the French Charleville model 1777 musket, and this design was retained for the Model 1816. The Model 1816 had a 42 inch long .69 caliber smoothbore barrel, similar to the Model 1812, but had a longer lock plate, a shorter trigger guard, and a longer bayonet than the Model 1812. The Model 1816 also had a more straight lined stock. The overall length of the weapon was 58 inches.

The Model 1816 musket was originally produced at the Harpers Ferry and Springfield Arsenals between 1816 and 1844. Around 675,000 were made, more than any other flintlock in U.S. history.

The Model 1816 was originally produced as a flintlock musket. Like many flintlock muskets, many of these were later converted to percussion cap, as the percussion cap system was much more reliable and weather resistant.

This model of Springfield musket was used by Texans during the Texas Revolution and by the US Army and militia during the Mexican-American War. During this conflict, the flintlock version of the Model 1816 was preferred by U.S. regular forces, due to percussion cap supply concerns.

It was also used during the early years of the American Civil War until around 1862.

Many improvements to the Model 1816 were made, producing the Model 1822, Model 1835, Model 1840, and Model 1842. U.S. Ordnance Department referred to these as different models, but in other U.S. government documents they are referred to as a continuation of the Model 1816. Modern histories are similarly inconsistent in the nomenclature of these weapons.

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