Gary/CO
04-25-2015, 04:15 PM
I have in my possession a 1842 Musket made at Harper's Ferry (1844). It belongs to Francisco's Fort Museum (http://franciscofort.org/) in La Veta, CO. The barrel was shortened down to 32" and distance from the front band to the center band is so short that the retaining spring could not be used. Instead, the front band is secured by a nail.
Broken at the wrist/tang, it was mended with seven nails. Another three nails were placed around the tail of the lockplate to keep that in place. Additionally, some well meaning but ignorant individual painted all the metal brown color.
My question concerns the stamping on the stock. There is a large capital "M" stamped on both sides of the stock near the buttplate. Anybody know what that "M" signifies? I didn't see anything in Whisker's book, The Southern Arsenal. Thanks.
Broken at the wrist/tang, it was mended with seven nails. Another three nails were placed around the tail of the lockplate to keep that in place. Additionally, some well meaning but ignorant individual painted all the metal brown color.
My question concerns the stamping on the stock. There is a large capital "M" stamped on both sides of the stock near the buttplate. Anybody know what that "M" signifies? I didn't see anything in Whisker's book, The Southern Arsenal. Thanks.