Reportedly, approximately 100 each of the Model 1841 "Mississippi Rifles," Model 1842 muskets, and Model 1847 musketoons were converted using Merrill's breech loading system around 1861-1862. The alteration involved boring out the barrel and rifling it for use with .58 Minie balls, removing the original breech plug and installing the Merrill breech system as well as adding the lever catch to the barrel, adding a screw through the lock plate, and using a bolster with a cleanout screw. It has a brass blade front sight, three leaf rear sight, "V/P/eagle head" proofs on the left at the breech, "S" ahead of the bolster, the three-line Merrill marking on the lever, standard Harpers Ferry markings on the lock which is dated "1848," "JHK" on the left stock flat, "WJ" on the trigger guard and patch box, and a spare nipple inside the patch box.

Good with mottled gray patina on the steel, aged patina on most of the brass, brighter patch box lid, repaired, reattached lower tang, and general mild wear. The heavily sanded refinished stock is fair and has multiple repairs in the wrist, some minor scratches and dings, and a crack below the lock. Mechanically fine.