Beschreibung:

.69 caliber. 42.125" round barrel secured by three flat, spring retained bands. SN: NSN. Bright finish, iron furniture, smooth walnut stock. Lock marked "US" forward of cock and "J. HENRY / PHILADA" in two vertical lines at the tail. Breech marked with a raised "P" in a depressed circle proof mark and a raised "Z" in a depressed diamond inspection mark, along with two file slash marks that resemble the Roman numeral "V". Counterpane with the "V/D.P." in intersecting circles cartouche inspection marks of arsenal sub-inspector Daniel Pettibone. Pettibone only worked for the Ordnance Department for roughly four months during the summer of 1809, and inspected 100 stands of arms from William and John J Henry. According to Mr. Pettibone's diary these inspections took place on July 26 and 27. The gun in no way conforms to the standards for the US Model 1808 Contract muskets, particularly the shape of the stock which which is more reminiscent of the French Charleville pattern muskets the first of the US-made martial long arms were patterned upon with a very distinctive and graceful butt more akin to a Fusil de Chasse than a military musket. The gun has the a traditional 1808 type flat beveled lock plate with a pronounced teat at the rear that measures 6.375" in length with an integral rounded, fenced and bridled iron pan and a reinforced flat beveled cock. Most external lock parts with the mating mark "8 I" on them although the "8" is stamped in such a way that is looks like a swooping "X" or two conjoined "C" marks. The marks is present on the steel screw, cock screw, frizzen spring screw and top jaw, with some of the markings weak. Internal screws with the same markings, as well as the tumbler and sear, with bridle missing and an old lump of metal providing the friction to keep the tumbler in place and the lock functional. Lock remains in original flint, as does barrel. Iron furniture consist of three spring retained flat barrel bands, a 9.5" triggerguard with rounded ends, and an S-shaped side plate. The lugs for the sling swivels have been removed from the triggerguard and middle band spring with swivels missing as well. Barrel with a lug stud for socket bayonet located on the top, 1.5" from the muzzle and with an anti-twist lug under the barrel 4.25" from the muzzle. Includes an old iron trumpet head ramrod a few inches short of full-length. An interesting variant on the US Model 1808 Contract Musket theme that does not conform to the standard but was still approved by an inspector who only worked for the Ordnance Department for a few months. Accepting non-conforming arms like this may have been why Pettibone's career was so short lived. Condition: Good to very good. Metal with a moderately oxidized and somewhat mottled brown over dull gray patina with markings in the metal remaining mostly clear and legible. Barrel with some scattered surface roughness and some light pitting. Furniture with a darker patina and some more significant roughness and some pitting. Lock mechanically functional and remains in original flint. Both lock screws appear to be very old replacements. Barrel remains in original flint with a moderately oxidized and heavily eroded touchhole. Bore moderately oxidized, dark and pitted. Stock with some light sanding, a crisp and clear cartouche on the counterpane, and some minor repairs. There is a nominally 7" glued crack on the reverse of the stock emanating from the rear barrel band back towards the lock, some tiny repaired chips around the front of the lock mortise, a chip out of the reverse butt near the toe and some old chipping around the barrel tang. Otherwise with the expected dings and mar of a US military musket that is more than 200 years old.