Traditions 1842 Springfield Musket Kit, .69 Cal Smoothbore - legit?

[Will Ganz]

Just getting started in N-SSA. In fact, didn't know N-SSA existed until I went by Back Creek in August of this year. Got a Zouave that Richard Hill in my 14th Mississippi was gracious enough to get squared away for rifled musket. Now have a PH Enfield musketoon deal ready to complete. Already had a Pietta 1858 revolver. Uniform is complete except getting the brass "14" and red cord for my hat. The only thing left to get is a smoothbore.

In order to keep costs down, am interested in the Traditions 1842 smooth bore musket that goes for about $850 and is described in every advertisement as "Approved by the North-South Skirmish Association (N-SSA)." But the 2022 01/01/2022 edition of approved production arms does not have this listed. This leads me to a couple of questions:

1) is this approved but on a different list since it is a kit & not a production arm. ?Then, is there a list of kit firearms that I need to seek out?
2) If it is on the "Kit approved" list, what finish on metal & wood is required?


Thanks in advance for your time & effort in answering this.

Best regards,

[Muley Gil]

The 1842 musket was finished in the white or "burnished" per the regulations of the day. The stocks were walnut, finished in boiled linseed oil. Tru-Oil would be my choice these days.

[John Bly]

Being as it is as kit and not a finished product I think it would need individual approval from the Small Arms Committee. Check it out before spending any $$$

[Frog]

With a little patience you may find an original '42 advertised on this site for close to the same money, maybe less.

[John Westenberger]

I'll reiterate what others have said, and add a bit of my own:

As it's a kit build, you need to get it approved by the SAC (Small arms committee) in order to use it in competition. As long as you build it to the spec sheet, it should pass. But this is not a course of action undertaken by most people.

Especially with 1842 smoothbores, you will probably be better off waiting to find one on the bulletin boards, or wait until nationals. You don't NEED to compete in smoothbore competition. My first season was just musket, second was musket and carbine, by the end of the season I had competed in two smoothbore matches, and I just added a pistol to the lineup. So in my third season next year, I will be shooting what you will right off the bat. I'd wait a few shoots to get your bearings, personally. It took me a few shoots to get in the swing of things. This being said:

My smoothbore came with a Whitacre barrel, who is probably the best manufacturer of new musket barrels, and a mix of original and pedersoli parts, and I got it for sub 700$. There are usually a few smoothbores sub 850 at nationals, and they come up here on the bulletin boards now and then. I'd personally wait, I've heard mixed reviews of the kits, especially for the cost. However, traditions is a reputable brand.

In closing, I'd wait, shoot what you have already and try to find an original that needs a little love for the same price or less here or at nationals. You can always get the barrel relined by Hoyt if it's a little rough.

[Maillemaker]

I have 2 Armisport 1842s (one dressed up to look like an H&P now). They shoot fantastically. My teammates with Armisport 42s likewise have great success with them. (RCBS .678 round ball roughed up, double-dipped in Lee Alox, 70 grains 3F Goex).

This is one gun where I am completely satisfied with the stock barrels, for sure.

However, the pickings are getting slim for reproduction muskets of all kinds. I've heard rumors that Armisport is going to discontinue the M1842. I can't get them to return a phone call or email. They are out of stock just about everywhere. If you can find one less than $1K, it's probably a deal to jump on it. N-SSA members tend to be generous on their resales, I find, but it's not going to take the used market long to figure out the old supply and demand thing.

Pedersoli 1861s and Lorenzes are now $1600+ the last time Regimental Quartermaster advertised some had come in. The days of $1000 reproduction muskets is probably over.

Steve

[B-Davis]

Just gonna set that there for ya, they are NOT mine.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/947050375

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/960125472

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/959847099

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/959707445

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/953072037 (With some work could be a short Macon)

[59thOVI]

Just gonna set that there for ya, they are NOT mine.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/947050375

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/960125472

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/959847099

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/959707445

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/953072037 (With some work could be a short Macon)

YES!! Much better options than a Traditions Kit!

[Will Ganz]

YES!! Much better options than a Traditions Kit!
Sad, but it seems that the Loyalist Arms Indian muskets are better made a Traditions kit.
Really makes me wonder if their factory assembled pieces are any better.

[norman horne, 12321]

Gentlemen and Ladies. A gauntlet has been thrown down, and satisfaction is hereby demanded at Spring Nationals 2023! A certain "Mr. Twinkie" of the Iredell Blues has challenged Big Steve of the 4th LA to a one on one smoothbore match, ten shots at 50 yards. Big Steve armed with his "fantastical" 42 ArmiSport against Mr. Twinkies 1816 stock Wurfflein. Winner to walk away with the losers $20 bill. If Mr. Steve accepts the challenge, the feat could be accomplished on the practice range using practice targets. (As Mr. Twinkies "second", I will collect 20% of all side bets). Y'all have a Merry Christmas

[Maillemaker]

Not sure if I'm going to that Nationals. We'll see.

Steve

[hobbler]

There's a rather interesting claim on the Traditions website that both of their 1842 kits are approved.
How can you have a preapproved though not yet built musket?

[Maillemaker]

There's a rather interesting claim on the Traditions website that both of their 1842 kits are approved.
How can you have a preapproved though not yet built musket?

I assume what they mean is if you build the kit correctly with the parts provided you'd end up with a gun just like the factory-produced one, which is approved.

Steve

[John Holland]

Everything built from a kit, with the exception of the Pedersoli single shot M-1807 percussion Pistol, is required to go through the individual small arms inspection process.

[Will Ganz]

Everything built from a kit, with the exception of the Pedersoli single shot M-1807 percussion Pistol, is required to go through the individual small arms inspection process.

just to clarify, this is what you're referencing:

https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index/page/product/product_id/9173/category_id/327/product_name/PK0937+HARPER%27S+FERRY+PERC+PISTOL+KIT

13279


https://shop.davide-pedersoli.com/en/harper-s-ferry/736-1110-harper-s-ferry-conversion-pistol.html#/102-caliber-54

[John Holland]

Yes, that is the pistol I referenced. The warning from the Small Arms Committee that goes with this "Finish it exactly as per the factory version. Do not leave the grips rough or oversize." If anyone is found to have done this, it will cause each and every one of these kit assembled pistols to through the SAC individual approval process. I would not want to be that person!

Sincerely,
John Holland
Small Arms Staff Officer
Chairman, Small Arms Committee

[Will Ganz]

I would not want to be that person!

Got too much going on right now to deal with all that, I?ll just buy the factory finished one and be done with it.