Model 1851 Cadet Musket manufactured by Springfield Armory in 1853. Springfield Armory manufactured a total of 1,160 percussion smoothbore cadet muskets in 1853, and a total of 4,000 cadet muskets between 1852 and 1853. The Cadet Musket featured the same lock as the Model 1847 Musketoon with a shorter barrel and stock with smaller buttplate in addition to the smaller, .57 caliber bore. The musket is "National Armory Bright" and has an oil-finished black walnut stock. The musket has three spring fastened barrel bands, and a steel trumpet head ramrod. The double-strap upper barrel band has an integral brass front sight blade. The bevel edged lock plate is roll-stamped "SPRING/FIELD/1853" in three lines behind the hammer and is stamped with an Eagle/Shield motif over the small letters "U.S." in front of the hammer. The barrel tang is dated "1853". Small "V/P/Eagle head" proof and inspection marks are stamped on the left side of the barrel. "U.S." is stamped on the buttplate ahead of the top screw. An Ordnance final inspection mark consisting of two script initials in a rectangle with rounded ends is stamped on the left stock flat. The musket has an unidentified bright-finished socket bayonet with 18 1/2-inch angular blade. The bayonet is unmarked and has a single shoulder behind the locking ring.

Very fine. The musket barrel, lock plate and iron furniture are bright. The musket shows no firing wear and and the bolster, percussion nipple and adjacent areas of the barrel are free from flash pitting. The markings on the barrel and lock plate are extremely crisp. The Ordnance inspection mark on the left stock flat is faint but legible. The edges of the reoiled stock surrounding the lock plate, the edges of the left stock flat and the edges of the barrel channel are sharp. Wear is limited to several recent and minor scratches on the left side of the stock near the buttplate. The bayonet is very good with dried grease on the blade. The only wear is some pitting on the locking ring. This is a very fine example of a scarce U.S. Model 1851 Cadet Musket.