Rifled & Sighted US Model 1840 Percussion Conversion Musket by Pomeroy

American Civil War

.69 caliber. 42" rifled barrel retained by three flat spring-retained bands. NSN. Bright finish, iron furniture, walnut stock. Single shot muzzleloading percussion altered musket. Lock marked with a {Spread-Winged Eagle} / L POMEROY forward of the hammer and 1843 / US vertically in two lines at tail of lock. Barrel tang dated 1843 as well with US / NWP inspection marks at breech and correct Pomeroy contract raised P proof in a depressed starburst. Clear script EB and WAT cartouches on counterpane, the marks of arsenal sub-inspector Elizur Bates and Ordnance Officer William Anderson Thornton. Bore is arsenal rifled with three lands and grooves, after the percussion alteration. Additionally a pattern 1855 long base ladder rear sight was added, as well as a tall blade iron front sight. Correct pattern, full-length trumpet head ramrod with threads at end, and face of rammer correctly modified for elongated ball ammunition. Both sling swivels present. It appears that most of the few hundred US Model 1840 musket that had been altered to percussion and were further upgraded by being rifled and sighted were arms that had been originally issued to the state of Virginia under the Militia Act of 1808. They were forwarded to Frankford Arsenal in 1860 for the rifling and sighting upgrade and were returned to the state before the outbreak of hostilities. Less than 500 US Model 1840 muskets were so altered for Virginia. This is likely one of those and as such a scarce secondary Confederate musket.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.