Musket

Object Name:

Musket

Object ID:

1994.048.01 a

Creator:

Amoskeag Manufacturing Company

Place of Origin:

Manchester, NH

Date:

1864

Description:

Rifle, percussion cap. Model 1861, by Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, Manchester, NH. Walnut stock, with steel and iron hardware, ram rod, and bayonet. Marked on right side lockplate "U. S. (with eagle emblem between letters) / AMOSKEAG MFG CO / MANCHESTER, N.H." and "1864". Marked on left side wood "WP[T]". Three steel barrel bands, each marked "U". Strap slings present; missing strap.
A. Rifle. 56" long, 2.4" deep, 4.5" high.
B. Bayonet. Marked "US". 21" long, 1" deep, 2.4" high.

Material:

Metal
Wood
Walnut
Steel
Iron

Dimensions:

H-4.5 L-56 D-2.4 inches

Provenance:

Collected by David Stark (1931-c.1990) of Concord, NH, who collected WWI and WWII military weapons as well as NH artifacts.

Textile manufacturing machinery, steam locomotives, fire engines, and sewing machines were made at the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company's machine shop in Manchester. On January 7, 1862, the company secured the first of three contracts from the United States government to manufacture a total of 27,001 1861 special model rifle muskets for use by the U. S. Army during the Civil War. It was one of four companies in the United States that delivered 152,000 1861 special model rifle muskets to the government during the Civil War. The Amoskeag Manufacturing Company also produced a small number of short artillery rifle muskets and 501 Linder breechloading percussion carbines during the war. At its peak, the machine shop employed 300 men, who turned out 125 guns per day. Six government employees were on site inspecting the guns each day.

Credit Line:

Gift of Eleanor H. Stark

People:

Stark, Eleanor H. (1933-2014)