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Winning Bid US $683 First bid $500 Quantity 1 # of bids 3 Time left Auction has ended   Started 2025-07-28 00:00:00 Ended 2025-11-21 22:35:25

US, 1808 Contact Musket, No Manufacturer markings. Cal: .69, MFG: 1808-15, S/N: None, Flintlock smoothbore, 44'' barrel.

HISTORY: Due to rising tensions with the British & the 1807 Chesapeake-Leopard Affair where the British warship HMS Leopard attacked & boarded the American frigate USS Chesapeake searching British naval deserters but lead to American casualties. American was producing the model 1795 musket at Springfield starting in 1795, & at Harpers ferry in 1800. But in 1807 Springfield had only made 5700 muskets & Harpers Ferry at 50. This was not enough to equip the Army& the Milita. During this time the US did not have any reserve federal troops so the state militias played a significant role in national defense. Between 1808 & 1810, Congress would approve the purchase of 82,500 Muskets to arm the Militia & would send out contracts to 19 private manufacturers. Each of these contractors were given either a Springfield or Harpers ferry made musket for them to copy. Problems would arise with production, firstly with delivery times. The contractors had 5 years to deliver their Muskets & each one at this time had to be handmade, filed, & fit. The US was also not ready to take on a contact this big/ convoluted & did not have enough experienced Inspectors for all the different contractors, leading to lots of parts being made out of spec & being rejected. Another was cost, the contractors were paid a $10.75 per musket, but with rising inflation & material costs with the War of 1812 beginning, this price was a loss for the contractors, & the US was not up to negotiate the price again. Some of the contractors would in turn sell their muskets to other buys willing to pay more. Lots of these were sold South America as they were in rebellion with Spain & Portugal & were willing to pay much more than the $10.75 Per Musket. After the start of the War of 1812, many local state militia units and state-chartered privateers needed muskets in a hurry. Probably more 1808 contract arms were sold by the contractors to other users than were delivered to the United States Government, which is why there is 1808 muskets with the United States proofed barrels and/or eagle U. S. lock plates, but no final acceptance United States inspector's cartouche on the left flat of the stock. Only about 50% of the 82,500 Muskets that were delivered & most of the ones that were, were of dubious quality. The Musket here has no military acceptance marks so is one of guns that was either solid privately here in the states to a contractor or to a foreign buyer.

CONDITION: The straight wrist black walnut stock is good with some cracks & chips around the lock plate cutout, & the left side of the forend, by the muzzle. There are a couple small cracks/grain pops at the toe & around the buttplate. stock has darkened from added oil over time. The metal is proud the wood around the barrel tang & slightly around the buttplate. The right cheek of the stock has a faded stamp, worn illegible but appears to be either a name or place. The belly of the stock has a faded ''ES'' stamp just behind the lower tang. This could possibly be the mark for Eathan Stillman, he received contracts for muskets in 1808 & previous contracts. The Earlier contracts had less standardization for markings so some manufactures would only stamp their name or mark into the stock; but by 1808 the locks had to be marked with the manufactures mark. The iron & brass have toned to a dark brown patina; barrel & lock have light roughness with tool ding marks on the barrel by the barrel bands. The barrel has a ''P'' over ''RC'' in a oval stamp. The lock is marked with a slightly faded American eagle over ''US''. The bore is poor. Dark with rust & pitting. The front barrel band holds a brass front sight. Musket has both sling loops & the metal ramrod. Antique/Muzzleloader, No FFL Req - Value: 1000 to 3000

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Price

US, 1808 Contact Musket, No Manufacturer markings. Cal: .69, MFG... Item # 4429 This auction is over. No new bids can be placed. Price: US $683

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