potsdamn musket

[navygunner]

I have a Potsdamn musket marked 1829 on the top left side and P1842 under the barrel in the breech area. It has a large bolster with a cleanout screw(?) was this bolster screwed into the barrel when it was converted? I was thinking on having it relined for the 150th events but if that was screwed in Dan Whitacre states it would probably damage the bolster threads weakening it.
Thanks

Geo. Dailey
USNLP/NMLHA
Battery D 1st Michigan

[John Holland]

Mr. Dailey -

When the Potsdam muskets were converted to percussion the bolsters were screwed and brazed onto the barrel. This was discovered when a friend just had to reconvert his Potsdam back to flint....it was no easy job to get the bolster off the barrel.

I know a number of people who have had the bores on Potsdam muskets sleeved to .69 caliber with no ill effects, and these arms are being fired with full bore sized round balls.

If you only want to fire blanks out of it for sesquicentennial events, I would just polish the bore to smooth it out a bit and not worry about it.

JDH

[navygunner]

John Holland,
Thank-you very much for the advice greatly appreciated.

geo