This particular U.S. Springfield Model 1847 Cavalry Musketoon was manufactured in 1853. The musketoon is fitted with the distinctive iron, button head ramrod with swivel and has a 'National Armory Bright' lock, hammer and barrel. The barrel bands, side plate, trigger guard and buttplate are brass. The full-length stock is oil-finished black walnut. The sling bar and ring have been removed from the side plate and lower barrel band and the sling bar mount has been milled off the lower band. The lock is roll-stamped: "SPRING/FIELD/1853" in three vertical lines behind the hammer and has the Springfield eagle and shield motif over "US" in front of it. The barrel tang is dated "1853" and the left side of the barrel is stamped with Armory "V/P/Eagle Head" proof and inspection marks. "U.S." is stamped on the heel of the buttplate. The Model 1847 Cavalry Musketoon was the primary long arm of the 1st and 2nd Dragoon Regiments between the Mexican War and the Civil War. Model 1847 Cavalry Musketoons continued to be issued to Federal volunteer cavalry regiments well into the Civil War

Very good. The musketoon has been cleaned long ago and the barrel, lock and hammer have a silver-gray patina. The barrel has some scattered pitting and surface roughness. The brass barrel bands, trigger guard and buttplate have a very attractive patina. The stock has been lightly sanded and is in very good condition. The inspection and sub-inspection marks that are typically stamped in the left stock flat are not visible. The sling bar and ring have been removed from the left side of the stock and lower barrel band, possibly during period of usage. The Model 1847 was unpopular with dragoons and cavalry troopers due to it's heavy recoil and poor accuracy but it remained the primary long arm issued to the Dragoon and Cavalry regiments prior to the Civil War.