Unknown proofmark

[Story]

http://i.imgur.com/J3mEF0Z.jpg

Found on a Whitney - anyone recognize it?

[RaiderANV]

Belongs to a bored Reb most likely......

[Story]

Belongs to a bored Reb most likely......

Too neat for Reb scribblings.

[RaiderANV]

Naw,,,,,,,thar be ah few of us edumacated types ah-round!

[R. McAuley 3014V]

Looks to be a "V" over "WD" like some kind of ordnance or war department view or acceptance stamp, but not anything I have seen on this side of the pond. Could be a state contract view mark stamped as viewed after the musket was converted to percussion? Trouble is, which state or which country? I don't know of any state associated with a trefoil symbol?

[BADSHOT]

Maybe a stretch of my imagination, but could that be a three leaf clover? A three leaf clover was the badge of the 2nd Corps of the Army of the Potomac ? Possibly someone's initials inside the clover?

[Story]

Naw,,,,,,,thar be ah few of us edumacated types ah-round!

In vino veritas.
http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view5/20140206/4971806/doc-holliday-cup-spin-tombstone-o.gif

[Story]

Maybe a stretch of my imagination, but could that be a three leaf clover? A three leaf clover was the badge of the 2nd Corps of the Army of the Potomac ? Possibly someone's initials inside the clover?

I'd be inclined to agree with the stylized three leaf clover, but have we ever seen Corps-marked weapons? Regimental, I could mebbe give a nod to.

Thinkin' this might turn out to be an Inspector's mark, albeit an Irish fellow.

[Story]

Looks to be a "V" over "WD" like some kind of ordnance or war department view or acceptance stamp, but not anything I have seen on this side of the pond. Could be a state contract view mark stamped as viewed after the musket was converted to percussion? Trouble is, which state or which country? I don't know of any state associated with a trefoil symbol?

Not to taint the Jury pool, but the comb is marked 'NYS'. Soooooooo, who worked as inspectors for Whitney circa 1841/1842?

[John Holland]

For the time period of a converted Whitney, if it was New York State property I would think the stamp would be "SNY", which was used up into the late 1880's. I don't think they ever used "NYS" as an official property mark.

[geezmo]

Having a senior moment. Can't remember where, but somewhere around here I have a reference to those markings. If memory serves me right it had to do with the class of the arm based on an inspection. Can't remember if the marks were applied at the time of original manufacture or when they were converted to percussion. If I can find the reference, I'll post it here.

Barry S.

[Story]

For the time period of a converted Whitney, if it was New York State property I would think the stamp would be "SNY", which was used up into the late 1880's. I don't think they ever used "NYS" as an official property mark.

My bad, dyslexic typing on my part.
http://i.imgur.com/NGhRcXC.jpg

[Story]

HaIf I can find the reference, I'll post it here.
Barry S.

Thanks in advance, Barry - appreciated.

[Jim Leinicke 7368V]

I had an 1808 contract musket dated 1811. Mine had this trefoil cartouche with a V over CW, for US inspector Charles Williams. This is just an early form of inspector cartouche. The musket you show is clearly a M1795 or one of it's many contract knock-offs.

[R. McAuley 3014V]

Flayderman's describes the Whitney 1798 Connecticut contract musket as having been inspected by "the State of Connecticut whose seal is a shield containing three bunches of grapes stamped in the wood opposite lock." He says CONNECTICUT is usually stamped on the sideplate and the gun will carry a rack number from #1 to 112.