MODEL 1851 US PERCUSSION VMI CADET MUSKET WITH MATCHING BAYONET

MODEL 1851 US PERCUSSION VMI CADET MUSKET WITH MATCHING BAYONET. Cal .58, 40″ bbl. This is a fine example of an 1851 dated Springfield Armory made musket that was issued to various military schools including the Virginia Military Institute who used these guns and have an identical 1851-dated gun on display in their museum with same bayonet. This particular gun, which is dated 1851, is presumably one of the first 200 guns completed as only 200 guns were made in 1851 and all are thought to have gone to VMI, according to an accompanying article by George Whiting published in 1995. There were 4,000 guns of this model made between 1851 and 1853 with the majority being made in 1852. When VMI was captured by Union forces late in the war, many of these cadet muskets were thrown into the Maury River. Four such excavated guns found in the river in the 1980s are now in the VMI Museum. Several other “river muskets” are now in private collections and all of the recovered muskets are dated 1851 on the lockplate and bbl tang such as this gun. This gun conforms to known configurations of this model with a 40″ rnd bbl, proofed with “VP” & eagle head and “1851” on bbl tang. Lock is marked with “US” under an eagle and “SPRINGFIELD 1851”. CONDITION: Overall, this gun is very good & sound. Bbl is gray/white with scattered areas of staining & pitting. Lock is gray & smooth with good markings. Stock is sound & solid though there is loss of wood from burning from firing gun behind bolster. Otherwise, stock is sound & solid with numerous small dings, dents & scratches and a 4″ hairline crack between rear bands. Bayonet matches condition of bbl & has proper US surcharge. 4-45074 JS36 (2,500-3,500)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2490	$2,587.50	MODEL 1851 US PERCUSSION VMI CADET MUSKET WITH MATCHING BAYONET. Cal .58, 40″ bbl. This is a fine example of an 1851 dated Springfield Armory made musket that was issued to various military schools including the Virginia Military Institute who used these guns and have an identical 1851-dated gun on display in their museum with same bayonet. This particular gun, which is dated 1851, is presumably one of the first 200 guns completed as only 200 guns were made in 1851 and all are thought to have gone to VMI, according to an accompanying article by George Whiting published in 1995. There were 4,000 guns of this model made between 1851 and 1853 with the majority being made in 1852. When VMI was captured by Union forces late in the war, many of these cadet muskets were thrown into the Maury River. Four such excavated guns found in the river in the 1980s are now in the VMI Museum. Several other “river muskets” are now in private collections and all of the recovered muskets are dated 1851 on the lockplate and bbl tang such as this gun. This gun conforms to known configurations of this model with a 40″ rnd bbl, proofed with “VP” & eagle head and “1851” on bbl tang. Lock is marked with “US” under an eagle and “SPRINGFIELD 1851”. CONDITION: Overall, this gun is very good & sound. Bbl is gray/white with scattered areas of staining & pitting. Lock is gray & smooth with good markings. Stock is sound & solid though there is loss of wood from burning from firing gun behind bolster. Otherwise, stock is sound & solid with numerous small dings, dents & scratches and a 4″ hairline crack between rear bands. Bayonet matches condition of bbl & has proper US surcharge. 4-45074 JS36 (2,500-3,500) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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