Origional 1863 stamp question

[ian45662]

A friend of mine happened uppon an origional 1863 type 1 musket. It is 3 band lock plate and barrel both are marked 1863. The stock is in great shape with 2 cartouches. Lock plate is stamped springfield but the butt plate is NOT stamped U.S. The interesting part to me is that there is a fain stamp on the butt of the stock that reads Whitney arms Co and above that is an eagle similar to that which is on the lock plate. Is this a whitney 1863?

[GPM]

These are muskets purchased by Whitney from the federal government in 1867. He bought 7000 for 4.40 each and sold them for 5.41 each.
Forgot to add, Whitney blued most of these muskets, lockplate and hammer were left casehardened. The buttplate on your example may have had the US polished off prior to bluing or it may have been a replacement installed by Whitney.

[hwaugh]

Good info on the 1863 Whitney musket...most Whitney(not all) non- contract muskets did not have a US stamped on the tang of the butt plate...Whitney didn't want to offend any potential buyers either before, during or after the war. By the way, this is a very collectable firearm for Whitney collectors.

Harry Waugh - 3731 - Terry's Texas Rangers

[ian45662]

Any Idea what a ball park value would be? I was going to try and encourage him to reline the bore. Should I not do this? Stock is in great shape and metal parts are not to bad.