The Model 1817 "Common Rifle" was one of the world's first widely issued military rifles and was manufactured by multiple American contractors in 1817 to 1840. R. & J.D. Johnson were the contractors that produced the smallest number of these rifles: just 3,000 of the 38,200 manufactured. This number only climbs to 8,002 if you include those made earlier under contract by Robert Johnson in 1819-1823. Many of these rifles were also converted to percussion in the 1840s and after. This makes high condition examples of their rifles especially rare and valuable, especially in original flintlock configuration. They are also desirable thanks to their connection to U.S. riflemen in an era in which most soldiers carried smoothbore muskets. Though the U.S. had previously purchased rifles on contract and manufactured them at Harpers Ferry, the Model 1817 rifles were the first rifles issued to the military in large numbers. Many were also issued to Union and Confederate troops during the Civil War. It has the standard blade and notch sights, "US/JM/P" on the breech end of the barrel, "H" on the left flat at the breech, "1826" on the upper tang, "U.S./eagle/R & JD. JOHNSON" at the center of the lock under the non-fenced brass flash pan, "1826/MIDDN CONN" on the tail of the lock, an oval cartouche and "H" stamp on the left stock flat, "JF" on the stock behind the trigger guard tang, "US" marked buttplate, and oval patchbox containing a rare oval lead flint pad, turn-screw, and worm attachment. The ramrod has a brass tip.

Exceptionally fine and nearly as issued with 85% plus of the original brown lacquer finish, oil stained brown tone on the lock, brown patina on the balance, slight strike wear on the frizzen face, and generally minimal age and storage wear overall. The stock is very fine and has the vast majority of the original oil finish, minor edge wear, some mild scratches and dings, clean wood inside the patchbox which appears to have rarely been exposed, a thin semi-circular hairline crack visible on the stock "belly" under the patch box, and otherwise minor overall storage wear. Mechanically excellent.