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Winning Bid US $350 First bid $350 Quantity 1 # of bids 1 Time left Auction has ended   Started 2025-05-07 00:00:00 Ended 2025-11-21 22:35:25

Potsdam Arsenal, Model: 1809/31 Musket, Cal: .71, MFG: 1809-34, S/N: 33 (this is a assembly number), Flintlock to percussion musket, 41 1/4'' barrel.

HISTORY: This Musket was as a flintlock in the 1810s to 30s at the Potsdam Arsenal in Prussia. In 1831 they developed a Percussion lock for the Potsdam musket. The new ones produced were the model 1831. Older muskets were converted to percussion as well. There is a ''1835'' date stamp on the barrel & buttplate, so this rifle was either converted to flintlock in 1835, or was made as a model 1831 in 1835, the ladder appearing to be what this gun is. These would start to be replaced by the Dreyse needle rifle, after Prussia adopted it in 1841. Lot of these Potsdam muskets were used during the civil war. In 1861 & 62, the Union bought around 165,000 of these muskets from various German states. A little over 100,000 were smoothbore & the rest were rifled. These muskets were mainly used by rear line & support troops to free up better Springfield or Enfield rifles for the front-line troops, but some of these would see front line use. There are reports of these being used by the Union as late as 1864.

CONDITION: the straight wrist walnut stock is good with cracks in the bottom of the forend, just in front of the middle barrel band. Cracks run halfway to the front band, chipped parts are loose & need repaired. Chunk of wood missing for the right of the wrist, where the wood meets the barrel, hole us exposing some of the lock-work. The stock appears to have been sanded & oiled at some point with very few nicks & dings on the stock, the metal being proud to the wood in most spots, & the heavily faded proof marks. The left flat of the stock has two barely visible crown proof marks. The belly of the stock has faint remains of the Prussian cartouches. The metal has was polished clean at some point but has roughness & pitting scars at the end of the barrel, around the stock line, & especially around the rear of the barrel & by the lock. The rear of the barrel is marked ''1835'' over a crown over a script ''FW'' over a script ''N?'' last letter is half worn away. On the left barrel flat, next to those markings are the assembly number ''33'', a faded ''70'' mark, crown over ''W''. The lock plate is marked with a crown over ''POTSDAM'' over two worn script letters. The upper extension of the buttplate is marked ''1835'', ''21 LWR'', ''12 C 110''. These are Prussian unit markings & the date it was issued. The brass side plate in the left flat of the stock, is marked with a crown, script ''N'', & ''33''. There are crowns stamped on the trigger guard tang & the barrel bands. The assembly number ''33'' is stamped on the barrel bands, & most of the screws. A number is stamped on the barrel band springs. The markings are worn but doesn't appear to be ''33''. The bore is poor, dark with roughness & spots of pitting. The front barrel band holds a brass blade front sight. The rear barrel tang has a notch rear sight. The stock carries a brass buttplate, has small ding marks. Musket has both bottom sling loops & has the ramrod. Musket also comes with the correct socket bayonet, marked with a crown over ''H''. Antique/Muzzleloader, No FFL Req - Value: 700 to 1400

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Payment Details See Payment Instructions and item description, or contact seller for more information.

Payment Instructions See item description or contact seller for more information.

Price

Potsdam Arsenal, Model: 1809/31 Musket, Cal: .71, MFG: 1809-34, ... Item # 4415 This auction is over. No new bids can be placed. Price: US $350

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