1829 WBlake

[bornintheussr]

Ran in to this conversion musket in the pawn shop. Lock works properly, barrel and nippel in poor condition. Seller asking $600. You guys think it's OK deal?

 

[Conquerordie]

Looks like it's in its original length. I wouldn't call anything on it in poor condition. Probably saw some hard use. That being said I wouldn't shoot it, hang and enjoy. Rammer was replaced at some point. All the patina looks the same, and the stock cartouches are nice. Id say it's a good deal.

 

[64Springer]

I'd be all over that for 600.

There's a solid rifle behind all that dirt. And I don't think it saw hard use at all. I think it was neglected. The screw heads are perfect. Which means people weren't constantly taking her apart.

And whatever you do, put aside all thoughts of removing JH REED from the stock. It's part of the rifle's history. With the serifs on the Es, it was likely done a long time ago.

Why are you reading this post?

Git to hump'n yer azz back to the store.

 

[Loyer]

Could be an early Civil War gun.

 

[Conquerordie]

It's got moderate corrosion around the breech from the corrosive caps and powder. Could very well have been a early war gun. It's a good deal

 

[Sam squanch]

Offer him $400 if it’s been sitting a while.

 

[bornintheussr]

dont know about $400 but he said he will take $500 ...

 

[PathfinderNC]

dont know about $400 but he said he will take $500 ...

You won’t regret buying it.

 

[bornintheussr]

You won’t regret buying it.

i got it, thanks for advise

 

[oldsarge79]

Your musket is almost certainly Civil War used and very probably Confederate. Marking a gun like that was prohibited in the Union army, not that it wasn't done occasionally, but very common in the Confederate units.

I did a little research on fold3, and by ignoring men in cavalry units, found six Confederate soldiers listed as JH Reed, as well as one Union soldier. Of course, there were countless others enlisted under their full names on both sides. For instance, there were probably 20 or 30 enlisted as John Henry Reed and another 20 or 30 as James Harvey Reed, or.....you get the picture.

If you had some markings on the gun to narrow it down, it would be great, but as is stands now, don't mess with the etched initials.

 

[bornintheussr]

I found this rifle in Florida, so probably it was in fact Confederate

 

[oldsarge79]

I was born and raised in Florida, and the vast majority of people in Florida are actually from up in Yankeeland. I refer to it as the second wave of carpetbaggers. My point simply being that these days, it could have come from anywhere in the country.
If it was found in an attic in Florida, that might be a different matter.
Still probably Confederate, though.

 

[Sam squanch]

I think norm flayderman stated most genuine confederate arms were found in the north. Most guns were confiscated by the occupying union in the south.

 

[oldsarge79]

Good point. GAR halls were full of war trophies.