A shaft runs horizontally through the lock, terminating at an oval brass plate on the left side of the stock and attached to the hammer on the right.
| GOOD–$25,000 | FINE–$65,000 |
MECHANICAL AND AUTO PRIMING PERCUSSION CONVERSIONS
D uring the 1840s and 1850s there was a rush to produce efficient and affordable percussion conversion systems for the thousands of flintlock muskets in federal arsenals. Designers proposed mechanical priming systems as time-savers by eliminating the need to manually place a percussion cap on the cone. In practice, these systems were troubled and none, other than the Maynard Tape Primer, received wide acceptance.
BUTTERFIELD DISC PRIMER
The Butterfield primer consisted of a tube mounted to the center of the lock plate. The tube held tiny fulminate detonation discs. Internal mechanisms permitted a disc to be placed on the nipple when the user cocked the hammer.
Jesse Butterfield received a contract to convert 5,000 arms with this system in 1859. Deliveries, however, were very limited. Converted weapons were usually marked on the lock plate, forward of the hammer, “BUTTERFIELD’S / PATENT DEC. 11, 1855 / PHILADA”.
| GOOD–$2,500 | FINE–$8,000 |
James D. Julia Auctioneers, Fairfield, Maine
MAYNARD TAPE PRIMER
The Maynard device is quickly recognized from the door placed on the lock plate forward of the hammer. To accommodate the mechanism, a special humped-shape hammer had to be used. The Maynard system fed a narrow strip of varnished paper with spots of fulminate at regular intervals.
Remington Arms Co. fulfilled a contract for the conversion of 20,000 U.S. Model 1816 muskets to the Maynard system between 1856-1859. The contract also called for the muskets to be rifled and receive long-range sights. The lock plates on these conversions are stamped, “REMINGTON’S / ILION, N.Y. / [date] / N.Y.” Some are known to be marked “HERKIMER” instead of “ILION”.
| GOOD–$900 | FINE–$1,850 |
The Frankford Arsenal’s “Type I” Maynard conversion included a rear sight and rifling.
D.S. NIPPES CONVERSION
D.S. Nippes received two contracts each for the conversion of 1,000 U.S. Model 1835/1840 muskets. Nippes alteration built on the principal of the Maynard tape primer but could also be manually primed with a single conversion. Markings encountered on Nippes conversions include, “EDWARD MAYNARD / PATENTEE / 1845” and “MAYNARD’S PATENT / WASHINGTON / 1845”.
| GOOD–$2,100 | FINE–$4,000 |
The “Type II” Maynard conversion was not sighted. Rock Island Auction Company
WARD TAPE PRIMER
The Ward system incorporated a swivel door on the upper section of the hammer. This covered the receptacle for a roll of tape primers. An internal mechanism fed the tape over the nipple when the user cocked the hammer. Ward conversions are found on U.S. Model 1816 (and even earlier Model 1812) muskets. The right side of the hammer is marked “J.N. WARD. U.S.A. / PATENTED JULY 1, 1856.” Although the total quantity produced is unknown, the State of New York contracted for 1,200 conversions in 1857.
| GOOD–$2,500 | FINE–$4,750 |
James D. Julia Auctioneers, Fairfield, Maine
PRUSSIAN MODEL 1809 MUSKET, .71 OR .72 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Rock Island Auction Company
Made by several different private gun manufactories, ca. 1809-1839 Total imported: Unknown, but at least 100,000.
Overall length: 56-1/2".
Muzzleloader, single shot.
Lock plates stamped either “Potsdam”, “Saarn”, “Neiße”, or “Suhl” beneath a Prussian crown. The large number of imports bearing the Potsdam stamp give the weapon its common designation. The year of conversion to percussion will often be found stamped on the left side of the barrel as will “[crown] / FW.” Butt plates exhibit an array of markings including the year of conversion from flint, rack number, and regimental designation.
Originally produced as a flintlock, smooth-bore musket, the Model 1809 was converted to percussion before being replaced by the Model 1839 rifled musket. All steel parts were left bright. The U.S. Ordnance Department purchased 100,300 Prussian arms identified as “smooth bore.” There are no known records of Confederate purchases.
Rock Island Auction Company
| GOOD–$350 | FINE–$900 |
U.S. MODEL 1841 CADET MUSKET .57 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
James D. Julia Auctioneers, Fairfield, Maine
Manufactured by Springfield Armory, Springfield, Massachusetts, 1844–45. Total production: 450.
Muzzleloader, single shot.
Eagle over “US” on lock plate to front of hammer; “SPRING / FIELD / [year] vertically on lock plate to rear of hammer; “V / P / [eagle head]” on barrel.
This musket was intended for use by the Corps of Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy and was in service through 1856. Although it had a 40" round barrel secured to the stock with three iron bands, there is evidence that there were also three-band examples with 31" and 34" barrels. All metal parts were browned, except the casehardened lock. The bayonet stud was on the underside of the muzzle; there was no
