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Thread: Norwich Musket reproduction

  1. #1
    RSiegel is offline
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    Norwich Musket reproduction

    I recently purchased at an auction a very high quality reproduction Norwich 1861 Contract musket. The lock plate is properly marked as is the barrel. There are two inspector marks. One is below the lock bolts on the left side of the stock, just to the rear on the stock flat. I believe the initials stamped are E L A. There is another stamp just between the lock bolt heads in very fancy script. As best I can tell, the letters are J B (?) J B. No other marks are on the gun except for those that would have been on an original.

    The gun appears to be unfired. Does anyone have an idea who may have made it?

    Thanks,

    Rich Siegel

  2. #2
    John Holland is offline Moderator
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    Rich, any chance the marks on the stock are "JRA"?

    JDH

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    I believe you may have an original or one made with original parts. ELA - Erskine S. Allen (armory sub-inspector). Could the JB be JM? Also, look carefully at the hammer (side that faces the barrel) for an R. An original Norwich should also have OBG stamped on the barrel below the VP. OBG - O.B. Graham. There should also be the letter M on the center of the trigger guard bow. If you take the look off, you may see the following stamps: R - body of tumbler, 2 - on stirrup, M - on sear, R- on the bridle, 1 - on the long arm of the mainspring. The rear sight should have a letter M on the left side of the base and 6 on the back of the long blade.
    Mike Santarelli 03635V, Adjutant
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  4. #4
    John Holland is offline Moderator
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    With all due respect, the stock cartouche for Erskine S. Allen is "ESA". If the musket in question is not a James River Armory reproduction, some of which were very well done, then study it very closely for it being put together from an assortment of interchangeable M-1861 parts. The discussions of what actually belongs together are endless.

    JDH

  5. #5
    ms3635v's Avatar
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    John, you are absolutely correct about the cartouche, it was a typo when responding.
    Mike Santarelli 03635V, Adjutant
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  6. #6
    RSiegel is offline
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    John,
    You are right as always, the inspector mark is ESA but I can't make out the other mark. Just from the look of the stock and metal to wood fit, I doubt it's a James River gun but did they put any marks of their own on their guns.

    Mike,
    I don't believe the gun could be original, and neither did the auction house. It's just too new. I believe it has original lock parts. Judging from the very low half cock position, the tumbler could be from a trapdoor. No builder marks on the inside of the lock or on the hammer.


    Thank you both very much for your thoughts!

    Rich

  7. #7
    John Holland is offline Moderator
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    Rich, JRA is the only company to have produced a repro Norwich, so don't sell your musket short just yet....you just might have a good one!

    Some years ago at a public auction, I looked at a Sharps Carbine that was "too good to be true", or so the crowd thought. When it came up I was the successful bidder at $175, because everyone else in the house thought it was a repro! It wasn't.

    Study your Norwich very closely, or better yet, bring it to the Spring National if you can!

    John

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    Hello!
    I have been reading this thread, and I can not say if your musket is an original or not, but I just wanted to give you another avenue to look at. There is a gentleman who is re-stamping reproduction lock plates. I checked his posting on the CW re-enactors webpage, and he has a Norwich plate (with photo) listed. MAYBE this is the type of lock you have. I hope this may help, and not just muddied up the waters!
    http://www.cwreenactors.com/forum/sh...ck+plate+stamp

    Bryan Davis

  9. #9
    John Holland is offline Moderator
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    Thanks for the link, Bryan, very interesting. At least they aren't hard to tell from an original.

    JDH

  10. #10
    RSiegel is offline
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    After closely examinig the lock plate on my musket to the lock plate Bryan referred to, my plare has a period after NORWICH. while the other plate does not. My plate also dies not have the screw holes by the 1863 date in line going down. My bottom screw is about 1/16" in front of teh top screw.


    The marking are stamped, especially as can be noted on the 1863 date on the barrel. It appears the number has been struck twice, the first strike was very light. The breech and barrel end does not appear to have any seam.

    Thanks for all your comments.

    Rich

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