Musket With Name On Stock - The Firearms Forum

otisrush · 12-11-2010, 08:56 AM

I have this musket and, as you can see, it has a name in pretty significantly large letters on the left side of the stock. I'm assuming something like this would be done by an owner - to make sure his weapon wasn't taken by someone else - as opposed to it being some sort of manufacturing mark.

Is that the right interpretation of this stock engraving?

Thanks.

OR

Alpo · 12-11-2010, 09:19 AM

Absolutely. Right up there with Mama sewing your name in your underwear before you went to summer camp. To make sure nobody else walked off with your stuff.

Jackman · 12-11-2010, 12:25 PM

Probably the owner , Nice musket

anymore pics?

Jim K · 12-11-2010, 07:56 PM

It appears to be a US Model 1812 (or perhaps what is called a "pre-1812") flintlock musket made by Eli Whitney and converted to percussion by what was called the "French style" or "drum and nipple" conversion. You can see where the holes for the frizzen screw and frizzen spring screw have been plugged and polished down. In its original flintlock configuration, it would bring well close to $3000 (in spite of the "carving", but the conversions are bringing under half that.

In the days before serial numbering of military arms, it was common for a soldier to put his name on the weapon for which he was responsible. It was usually against regulations (as it is today), but it was done anyway.

Jim

musketshooter · 12-12-2010, 11:09 AM

Very nice piece. My 1812 Whitney has the cone-in-barrel conversion. It appears that the use of a Hawken style hammer was quite common for conversions. I have an 1816 conversion with a similar hammer. There are some web sites where you can search the names of Civil was vets. I have an 1863 musket that was traced to the person who carried it. Try a google the name.

otisrush · 12-12-2010, 09:39 PM

A couple more pics. It's missing it's rod.

OR

RJay · 12-13-2010, 06:26 PM

FWIW, the name doesn't not appear to be hand carved, but rather using a router and template. I don't believe it was done by a soldier sitting by a campfire with his old whittling knife.

Buffalochip · 12-14-2010, 11:24 AM

I'll go with the "old whittling knife" --not too many electric routers around back then.

Jim K · 12-14-2010, 02:39 PM

I have seen some work done by those "whittlers" and have little doubt it was hand carved, not done with a machine. Unlike modern workmen, to whom time is money, the old timers were patient and careful. Scrimshaw and ivory carving are other examples of such work.

Jim

12-11-2010, 08:56 AM	#1
otisrush Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 12	Musket With Name On Stock I have this musket and, as you can see, it has a name in pretty significantly large letters on the left side of the stock. I'm assuming something like this would be done by an owner - to make sure his weapon wasn't taken by someone else - as opposed to it being some sort of manufacturing mark. Is that the right interpretation of this stock engraving? Thanks. OR -->

12-11-2010, 09:19 AM	#2
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,756	Re: Musket With Name On Stock Absolutely. Right up there with Mama sewing your name in your underwear before you went to summer camp. To make sure nobody else walked off with your stuff. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

12-11-2010, 12:25 PM	#3
Jackman V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 446	Re: Musket With Name On Stock Probably the owner , Nice musket anymore pics?

12-11-2010, 07:56 PM	#4
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: Musket With Name On Stock It appears to be a US Model 1812 (or perhaps what is called a "pre-1812") flintlock musket made by Eli Whitney and converted to percussion by what was called the "French style" or "drum and nipple" conversion. You can see where the holes for the frizzen screw and frizzen spring screw have been plugged and polished down. In its original flintlock configuration, it would bring well close to $3000 (in spite of the "carving", but the conversions are bringing under half that. In the days before serial numbering of military arms, it was common for a soldier to put his name on the weapon for which he was responsible. It was usually against regulations (as it is today), but it was done anyway. Jim

12-12-2010, 11:09 AM	#5
musketshooter Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 34	Re: Musket With Name On Stock Very nice piece. My 1812 Whitney has the cone-in-barrel conversion. It appears that the use of a Hawken style hammer was quite common for conversions. I have an 1816 conversion with a similar hammer. There are some web sites where you can search the names of Civil was vets. I have an 1863 musket that was traced to the person who carried it. Try a google the name.

12-12-2010, 09:39 PM	#6
otisrush Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 12	Re: Musket With Name On Stock A couple more pics. It's missing it's rod. OR

12-13-2010, 06:26 PM	#7
RJay Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,498	Re: Musket With Name On Stock FWIW, the name doesn't not appear to be hand carved, but rather using a router and template. I don't believe it was done by a soldier sitting by a campfire with his old whittling knife. __________________ RonJames

12-14-2010, 11:24 AM	#8
Buffalochip Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 765	Re: Musket With Name On Stock I'll go with the "old whittling knife" --not too many electric routers around back then.

12-14-2010, 02:39 PM	#9
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: Musket With Name On Stock I have seen some work done by those "whittlers" and have little doubt it was hand carved, not done with a machine. Unlike modern workmen, to whom time is money, the old timers were patient and careful. Scrimshaw and ivory carving are other examples of such work. Jim