Original Item: Only One Available. The M1817 common rifle (also known as Deringer M1817 rifle) was a flintlock muzzle-loaded weapon issued due to the Dept. of Ordnance's order of 1814, produced by Henry Deringer and used from the 1820s to 1840s at the American frontier. Unlike the half octagon barreled M1814 common rifle that preceded it, it had a barrel that was round for most of its length. The 36-inch barrel was rifled for .54 caliber bullets. For rifling it had seven grooves. Like the M1814 common rifle, it had a large oval patch box in the stock, however the stock dropped steeper than on the M1814 common rifle.

After producing the M1814 common rifle through contractors, the military decided to do the same with the M1817 rifle. The Harper's Ferry Arsenal produced a pattern weapon, which was then taken to gunsmiths to be copied. The rifle was built by Henry Deringer of Philadelphia (13,000 made), Nathan Starr & Co. of Middleton, Conn. (10,200 made), Simeon North of Middleton, Conn. (7,200 made), R. Johnson of Middleton, Conn. (5,000 made), R. & J. D. Johnson of Middleton, Conn. (3,000 made).

Over time the rifles became obsolete, but they still saw service during the American Civil War, originally flintlocks, most were converted to percussion cap for their firing mechanism. They saw service in the west, as far as California, where there were still M1817 rifles in the Bencia, California arsenal in the 1860s.

This is a very nice and interesting example of a Model 1817 Common Rifle by Henry Deringer, which like most was converted to percussion for use during the U.S. Civil War. It also looks like it was almost certainly entirely refinished at some point, as these were issued with browned or bright barrels, and now all of the metalwork has a deep blued finish, and the stock was also varnished, making it a very striking piece.

The lock is correctly marked with U.S. / DERINGER / PHIL.A, with 1841 across the lock plate tail, indicating it was manufactured under the official government contract, and accepted at arsenal. It also is dated 1841 faintly on the barrel tang, and has U.S. / NWP on the top of the barrel breech, for Nahum W. Patch, a known government inspector who worked 1831-1849 and inspected a wide variety of small arms. The left side of the stock by the lock screws shows two faint oval inspection cartouches, which we unfortunately are not able to read.

Of interest is that the top of the barrel is also stamped with C. SIEBERT COLUMBUS O., for Christian Siebert, a German Immigrant gunsmith born in 1822. He moved to Ohio and apprenticed under John Griffiths of Cincinnati in 1838, then working in Louisville, Cincinnati and finally in Columbus, before passing in 1886. We can find no information about him ever having government contracts or having supplied barrens to Deringer, who did not have any need of sub-contractors.

Our conclusion is that he may have retailed or sold the gun after it was sold off as surplus. The barrel was smooth-bored at some point, most likely for fowling use, and now has a bore diameter of 0.57", about a 24-25 bore, popular for small game. We assume that the percussion conversion was done at arsenal, but it is always possible that it was converted later. Definitely some great research potential in this very interesting example!

Condition wise, the gun really looks fantastic due to the refinish it got at some point, which is still very well retained. The wood has a lovely color, still retaining most of the varnish that was applied in the past. It does however have a repaired crack running through the stock just at the front of the lock, which looks to have originated at the front lock screw channel.

The metalwork still retains almost all of the dark blued finish. Even the ramrod was blued, except for the brass tip. We checked the bore, and it is definitely smoothbore now, and shows moderate fouling and oxidation. Both Sling swivels are still present, though the trigger guard swivel is broken on the right side. The patch box on the right side of the stock still opens correctly, and is empty. We checked the lock, and it does work, however it does not hold correctly at half cock. The tumbler is definitely worn, and it takes very little pressure to fire the lock at both half and full cock.

A very interesting example of a hard to find U.S. Military rifle, with some fantastic display and research potential! 

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1841
Caliber: .57" (Bored Out)
Cartridge Type: Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 36 Inches
Overall Length: 51 1/2 Inches
Action type: Side Action Percussion Lock
Feed System: Muzzle Loading

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