July 12-14, 2022 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/12/2022
US M1840 musket manufactured by and altered to the Maynard tape priming system by Nippes, dated 1848. Daniel Nippes was producing the last of his 1840 flintlock musket contract for the US Government when, on February 28, 1848, he received a new contract from the Ordnance Department to alter 1000 of these M1840s to percussion using the Maynard tape priming system. He would receive another contract for 1000 on November 18, 1848, manufacturing 2000 in total. The Nippes contract alteration muskets were considered experimental by the Ordnance Department, eventually leading to the production and adoption of the improved Maynard lock for the M1855 rifle muskets. 42" round barrel in .69 caliber smoothbore with brass blade front sight on Charleville style front barrel band and no provision for rear sight. Full length trumpets head ramrod, possibly the original. Correct spanner-type nipple mounted on bolster. Barrel is dated 1848 on tang and is marked "U.S" / "JH" / "P" near breech. Maynard tape primer door is marked "EDWARD MAYNARD" / "PATENTEE" / "1845". Lock is marked "MILL" / "CREEK" / "PA" / "1848" behind correct type hammer. 1 piece walnut stock in 3 barrel band musket configuration complete with US marked military buttplate. Stock bears "JH" and "WAT" cartouches on left stock flat. CONDITION: Excellent for its age, turning an untouched brown-gray patina with consistent, light freckling throughout. Stock is very good with handling marks throughout and small crack at top buttplate tang. Action is tight and crisp. Tape priming device appears to function correctly. Bore is dark. A scarcely encountered and historically important experimental musket. TON
Caliber/Bore
.69 Smoothbore