Standard Catalog of Civil War Firearms. John F. Graf

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      Originally designed as a flintlock musket, the P39 musket can be recognized by the three round pins and upper swivel screw that retain the barrel to the stock. The P39 was produced without a rear sight, though several examples clearly have had sights added. Though records do not specifically indicate pattern models, it is very likely that both Confederate and U.S. Ordnance purchasing agents obtained P39 muskets.

       BRITISH PATTERN 1842 MUSKET, .76 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION

      Made by various English manufactures, London, England, 1842-1855. Total imported: Unknown, but likely several thousand.

      Overall length: 55".

      Muzzleloader, single shot.

      Lock plates vary depending on year of manufacture. Generally, the lock plate will be stamped with a crown over “VR”, the British “broad arrow” and the year of manufacture in addition to “Enfield” or “Tower”, depending on place of manufacture. Barrels are stamped with either the Enfield proof mark, a crown over “VR” or “MR” above a set of crowned scepters or the London and Birmingham mark consisting of a crown over “TP” over a broad arrow in addition to a crown over “B” surmounting a “7” over a crowned broad arrow.

      The P42 musket can be recognized by the three flat keys and upper swivel screw that retain the barrel to the stock. The P42 was produced with a notched rear sight. The ramrod head is slightly concave. Rather than a side plate like that found on the P39, the lock plate screws pass through two brass washers with rectangular extensions on opposite sides. Though records do not specifically indicate pattern models, it is very likely that both Confederate and U.S. Ordnance purchasing agents obtained P39 muskets.

       CONFEDERATE CONTRACT PERCUSSION CONVERSIONS

      Converted by various gunsmiths, Richmond, Virginia, 1861. Total production: 50,000.

      Muzzleloader, single shot.

      In 1861, the Commonwealth of Virginia contracted six Richmond gunsmiths to convert approximately 50,000 flintlock muskets: S.B. Cocke, Thomas Addams Jr., Francis Perpignon, Samuel C. Robinson, Samuel Sutherland, and the Union Manufacturing Company. The contractors all employed the brazed bolster configuration.

       James D. Julia Auctioneers, Fairfield, Maine

       James D. Julia Auctioneers, Fairfield, Maine

      Confederate Brazed Bolster, Type I. Percussion bolster brazed over the flintlock vent. An iron plug blocks the hole drilled through the bolster to connect the cone hole to the old vent hole.

       James D. Julia Auctioneers, Fairfield, Maine

      Confederate Brazed Bolster, Type II. Percussion bolster brazed over the flintlock vent. A screw blocks the hole drilled through the bolster connect the cone hole to the old vent hole.

      The “Confederate brazed bolsters” do not add significantly to the value of the particular converted musket. For values, refer to the particular type of weapon.

       U.S. MUSKET, .69 CALIBER, CONTRACT CONVERSIONSTO PERCUSSION IGNITION

       W hen the U.S. Ordnance Department determined to convert its firearms from flintlock to percussion ignition systems in the 1840s, it had 600,000 muskets deemed suitable for altering to percussion. Many of those muskets were converted from the late 1840s until the beginning of the Civil War, using three basic systems:

       James D. Julia Auctioneers, Fairfield, Maine

       The French-style (or side-lug, or drum-and-nipple).

      This was the earliest type of conversion and was performed by private contractors until the early 1850s. All exposed lock parts were removed, the flash pan cut and ground off almost flush with the lock plate, the touch hole enlarged, and screw holes plugged. A cylindrical bolster and nipple was screwed into the touch hole and a new hammer installed.

GOOD–$700

FINE–$1,300

       James D. Julia Auctioneers, Fairfield, Maine

       Virginia cone-in-barrel contract conversion. James D. Julia Auctioneers, Fairfield, Maine

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