Harpers Ferry Model 1842 .69-Cal Percussion Musket, 42 in Smoothbore Barrel, 1851-Dated Lock
This U.S. Harpers Ferry Armory Model 1842 percussion musket is an antique .69-caliber smoothbore with a 42 in round iron barrel. The lockplate is stamped "HARPERS FERRY 1851" with a Federal eagle, and the breech tang is dated 1850. It retains its rectangular socket-bayonet lug, dual barrel bands (sling swivel on the middle band; second swivel on the trigger guard), and a steel trumpet-head ramrod. Hand-carved tally or initial marks on the stock add period character to this example.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Specific Condition Notes: This musket is solid for its age with scratches and blemishes present across the rifle. Metal surfaces show widespread pitting with a patinated finish. The bore exhibits pitting. Numerals and letters are carved into the left side of the stock.
What’s Included
- Harpers Ferry Model 1842 .69-caliber percussion musket as described
Lock and barrel dates confirm its mid-19th-century Harpers Ferry Armory origin: the lockplate reads "HARPERS FERRY 1851" beneath a Federal eagle device, while the breech tang is dated 1850. These markings are clear reference points for production period and configuration.
The 42 in round iron barrel is a .69-caliber smoothbore with a simple front sight at the upper band and no rear sight, consistent with the pattern. A rectangular socket-bayonet lug is set at 12 o’clock near the muzzle, supporting the standard bayonet interface for the Model 1842 series.
Hardware is correct to the pattern, including two barrel bands with a sling swivel on the middle band and a double-strap upper band forming the nosecap. A second sling swivel is mounted on the trigger guard. The steel trumpet-head ramrod is present, and an S-shaped flat sideplate with two lock screws anchors the lock.
The musket uses a single-shot percussion muzzleloading action with an external hammer and a wood stock. Length of pull measures 13.5 in. The stock shows hand-carved tally or initial marks, adding identifiable field use characteristics to this antique example.