Musket

Object Name:

Musket

Object ID:

2016.044

Creator:

Amoskeag Manufacturing CompanyManufacturer

Place of Origin:

Manchester, NH

Date:

1864

Description:

Rifled musket. Made by Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, Manchester, NH, 1864. Percussion cap musket, Special Model 1861. Walnut stock, with steel and iron hardware, and ram rod. Stamped incuse on right side lockplate, "U. S. (with eagle emblem between letters) / AMOSKEAG MFG CO / MANCHESTER, N.H." and "1864". Trapezoid-shaped inspector's marked on left side of stock opposite lockplate. Three steel barrel bands, each marked "U". Steel butt plate, stamped "U.S." on top. Strap slings attached to trigger mechanism and bottom of barrel band.

Material:

Wood
Walnut
Metal
Steel

Dimensions:

L-56 inches

Provenance:

Purchased by lender c. 1980 at an antique shop in Northwood Narrows, NH.

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 Q. David and Christine Bowers

Subjects:

Firearms, Rifles, Muskets