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Maybe Harper Ferry?

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ableload

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Hello!
1st time poster. My father left me this gun when he passed and I’m not sure what it is. There was a piece of paper with it saying it could be a Harper Ferry. Originally a flint converted to percussion. AR1840 inspector mark in the stock. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Thank you very much!
 

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One other piece in info on a scrap of paper I found with it..
Sword "hangar" 2nd army weapon 1810-1840 "french Charlesvilles" not really sure what that means so I googled French Charlesvilles Musket and it came up with something similar to mine.
 
According to the listing of inspectors given in the Dixie Gun Works catalog, "AR" is the the stamp of Adam Rhulman, Armory sub-inspector at Harpers Ferry from 1835 thru 1854. Apparently he inspected this gun in 1840.
 
Wow! that's crazy! Ill have to look him up! So does that mean that its a Harper Ferry?
 
If it were a Harpers Ferry it would have Harpers Ferry stamped vertically into the tail of the lock and there would be an eagle in front of the hammer. It doesn't look like any markings have been removed from the lock. I've never seen any of the markings like you show in the photos on a U. S. musket nor have I ever seen a marked rammer and the rear sight looks strange. The inspector's mark doesn't follow US form including being in the wrong place. Speaking of the rear sight is the gun rifled, that's too sophisticated sight for a smoothbore. It could be a Charleville but the French usually marked their locks. I'm 100% certain it isn't the product of a US armory.
 
Interesting thanks for the info!
I found a few more markings on it..
The first pic is by the front on the metal piece holds the end of barrel and stock together. Kinda looks like a crown with a capital “B” under it.
The second pic is by the back Nearby where the “ar” stamp is, same with the 3rd pic
the 5th pic Is a close up of the 4th pic.

Oh yes and the barrel is not rifled.
 

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I would also go to n-ssa board and post it there. Not to much them boys don’t know.
Excellent idea there 59 sharps.

The hammer looks like a French conversion (from flintlock) to me, and the trigger guard rail has finger grooves on it and I've never seen those on American weapons. Also, the trigger guard sling swivel is mounted on a tab in front of the trigger guard bow which were only on very early U.S. Model 1816 muskets, but the stock comb is like a Model 1835/40 musket. It's probably French or a Belgium copy of a French musket.
- Just looked into my old copy of The Rifle Shoppe catalog and it may be a conversion of the French 1816 or 1822 musket because they have all those features that I mentioned. The US copied French arms from the beginning of the US and incorporated many features of French arms into US arms into the 1840's at least.
Mike
 
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Mike,
Thanks for the info!! I took it to a dealer today who gave me a bit of information. He thought (as a lot of you do as well) it was probably French but not 100% on that. He also thinks the gun was later modified and then inspected by Adam Rhulman. BTW I was wrong!! It is rifled! I didn't see the rifling because it was really faint. Some if the stamping on the stock of the gun was in a cheek cut out that apparently was not original as if the cut out had its own stamp. Ill take better pics of that. The rear adjustable sight may have been added at that time....He also thought it was used in The American Indian wars.
 
"it was used in The American Indian wars." Doubtful but it makes a good tale. I wouldn't be surprised to find the cheek piece cutout to be original to the gun. It's also possible it was rifled at a later date and the cut out added then so that a person could get down on the sights.

Again the "AR" stamp does not confirm to US practice in form or location. The US government would not have been purchasing guns overseas in 1840 (they did during the Civil War) as Springfield & Harpers Ferry were producing all that were needed and these to a specific pattern.

It is a nice piece and I hope someone can positively identify it soon.
 
There is a gunsmith in Bolivar Heights WVa. named John Zimmermann he is or was the armorer for Harpers Ferry national park and the national park service, The last I heard he is still in business do not have a contact # for him but you could do a search. He will be able to give you exact information as to weather your musket is genuine and maybe some documentation on it
 
Va. Manuf. 06 good info perhaps it will help out Ableload with his quest I have had Mr. Zimmerman do some work for me years ago very satisfied he is a wealth of knowledge. Have not seen or spoken to him in a long time hope he is doing well
 
Wow! thats fantastic!! you guys are very helpful! I will contact him, also send daylight pics here..
 
HERE'S A COMPARISON OF THE FRENCH MODEL 1822 AND THE ALMOST EQUIVALENT BELGIAN MODEL 1831. BOTH ARE ORIGINAL FLINTLOCKS, BUT MANY (MOST) WERE CONVERTED TO PERCUSSION. NOTE THE SLIGHTLY LONGER LENGTH OF THIS BELGIAN GUN. BOTH HAVE A PROFUSION OF INSPECTOR, MANUFACTURER, AND UNIT MARKINGS BUT ALL BELGIAN GUNS WILL HAVE THE LIEGE PROOF MARK OF "ELG" IN A CIRCLE. I SUSPECT YOUR PERCUSSION CONVERTED GUN IS FRENCH, BUT IT SHOULD BE MARKED WITH THE MODEL DESIGNATION ON THE TANG AS WITH THE LEFT TANG MARKING (LIGHTLY ENGRAVED AND DOESN'T SHOW WELL IN THIS PHOTO)
Screen Shot 2020-06-14 at 12.54.02 PM.png
 
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