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Thread: Smoothbore with rear sight?

  1. #1
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    Smoothbore with rear sight?

    I was told that there are smoothbores with rear sights that are N-SSA legal. I skulked the line this past Cockade skirmish and honestly did not see one. One of the old salts on my team said " Yo want a Potsdam -good luck findin one" . Are there any reproduction or original (O-rig-inal) smoothbores with rear sites that are N-SSA legal?

    Thanks
    Last edited by JimW; 08-06-2021 at 03:29 PM.
    Jim Willauer
    CV-011 Cockade Rifles

  2. #2
    Muley Gil is offline
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    Look at these threads about H&P muskets:

    Search Results - North-South Skirmish Association (n-ssa.net)
    Gil Davis Tercenio
    # 3020V
    34th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry
    Great, great grandson of Cpl Elijah S Davis, Co I, 6th Alabama Inf CSA

  3. #3
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    Smoothie

    Thank you.
    Jim Willauer
    CV-011 Cockade Rifles

  4. #4
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    There are a few original condition Potsdams on GB right now.

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    Don Dixon is offline
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    The when the System Augustin smoothbore tubelock Muster 1842 muskets and Muster 1844 Extra Corps carbines were manufactured by the Austrian Army they had a fixed rear sight on the tang of the breech screw. Significant numbers of them were sold to the Federal Army and probably to the Confederate Army. If you can find one that didn't have the sight removed and wasn't rifled when it was transformed to caplock it would be a rear sighted gun which was legal for the N-SSA smoothbore matches

    Regards,
    Don Dixon
    2881V

  6. #6
    Ben Nevlezer is offline
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    FWIW...
    The way I read and understand the N-SSA rules, ANY smoothbore with a rear sight, must be inspected by the SAC and issued a SAC approval card to be legal for use in N-SSA competition. I believe that would include the Potsdam. Just saying, I've heard many times that "my H&P is all original so I don't need a card for it" , not true!

  7. #7
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    I have an H&P in excellent condition for sale

    Quote Originally Posted by JimW View Post
    I was told that there are smoothbores with rear sights that are N-SSA legal. I skulked the line this past Cockade skirmish and honestly did not see one. On of the old salts on my team said " Yo want a Potsdam -good luck findin one" . Are there any reproduction or original (O-rig-inal) smoothbores with rear sites that are N-SSA legal?

    Thanks
    I have a sighted and NSSA SAC card H&P for sale.

  8. #8
    Harry Gaul's Avatar
    Harry Gaul is offline
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    H and P sighted musket

    H and P are very popular but you have to be careful. The position of the rear sight is key to finding a legal NSSA sighted smoothbore. If the H and P has a rear sight pointing in the usual direction, and there is no clean out screw, and there is a "shark fin" front sight on the front barrel band, and unaltered as to length and other specs., you most likely to have a legal, SAC passing, H and P in its unaltered state. If the H and P has the sight pointing in the reverse direction, and there is clean out screw, mostly likely you a H and P made for the State of New Jersey and is rifled. You can still use it in the NSSA but not in Smoothbore competition. There are members who shoot a rifled 69 cal musket in musket competition. It is personal preference for them. Most of us use the standard 54 or 58 cal musket from 55 to 64 type II or Enfield or whatever.

    There is even a short version of the Potsdam floating around the gun show circuit. Do you want to destroy a Civil War Potsdam by relining it and now it is a "Skirmish" smoothbore firearm? Decisions? Decisions?


    I defer to members of the SAC committee for clarification. After 42 years in the organization, this has been my experience.

    Harry in Pa.
    03626v
    Last edited by Harry Gaul; 06-25-2021 at 12:37 PM.

  9. #9
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    Unhappy

    Apparently I was not "careful" in my latest purchase.....
    Jim Willauer
    CV-011 Cockade Rifles

  10. #10
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    It is said that this research is now somewhat obsolete but it is still an interesting read about H&P conversions:

    https://americansocietyofarmscollect...lips-Story.pdf

    What Harry said is correct. Basically, if it's got a cleanout screw in the bolster, it's probably not a smoothbore.

    Steve
    Steve Sheldon
    Commander
    4th Louisiana Delta Rifles
    NRA Certified Muzzleloading Instructor

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