The Model 1842 Musket was an important weapon in both the Union and Confederate Armies during the early years of the Civil War. This example is marked with "SPRING/FIELD/1845" vertically at the tail of the lock, the eagle/shield motif over "US" ahead of the hammer, "V/P/eagle head" proofs on the barrel near the breech on the left, inspector E.S. Allen's "ESA" cartouche on the left flat, "SRC" behind the lower tang, and "US" on the buttplate tang. Allen is known to have been active starting around 1850 suggesting it may have been re-stocked. There are also some single letter inspection markings. It has a brass front sight blade on the front part of the dual front barrel band, a bayonet lug on the underside of the barrel and includes a trumpet head ramrod, wooden barrel plug, and "US" marked socket bayonet. The Model 1842 muskets were manufactured from 1844 until 1855 and have the distinction of being the first percussion arms manufactured at both Springfield and Harpers Ferry, the first firearm manufactured at the national armories with fully interchangeable parts, and the last .69 caliber smoothbore U.S. long gun.

Fine as partially modified (date buffed off of tang). There are patches of brown patina and slight pitting, but the metal surfaces are mostly bright. The lock plate is fine with legible markings. The stock is excellent and has crisp cartouches. Wear is limited to some small scrapes and chips near the butt and occasional handling/storage type marks. The markings are mostly crisp. The action is excellent. The bayonet is bright but pitted.