cartouche

[gemmer]

My musket stock has an RPB cartouche and an M at tail end of the trigger guard. Would that indicate a Springfield or contract stock? The barrel is a '63 with an 1863 date. The lock plate is a '61 dated 1861 with a '63 hammer which leads me to believe it's a parts gun.

[Carolina Reb]

If the final inspection was at Springfield, there should be 2 cartouches opposite the lock. One will be a script ESA, for master armorer Erskine S Allin. The other will be the final assembly sub inspector. The M at the back of the trigger plate is the stock inspector. Federal contractor made muskets may have one or two cartouches. Field replacement stocks don't have cartouches opposite the lock, but will have a stock inspection at the back of the trigger plate. State contract muskets have a wide variety of markings.

The lock is a replacement for sure, but a '61 dated lockplate is a nice find!