American military flintlock musket mark CT philadelphia lock

[YANKEEDROIE]

I just bought from an estate a musket with a clear barrel mark CT. Iv read these marks were used in the early safety committee era to represent the states. The mark is unfound in my research. Also the lock is a Philadelphia signed piece with the eagle & US. I would love to get some information on this rifle. I am adding pictures of this and the hat plate from the Connecticut militia purchased with the gun.  Uncertain which links will come up I am adding both . They are the same photos.

[JV Puleo]

Nice musket. The Committees of Safety were associated with the early part of the Revolution, long before that gun was made. I doubt that the mark means "Connecticut"... its a barrel inspector's mark and those are probably the initials of the inspector. You could search through Volume I of Pete Schmidt's "U.S. Military Flintlock Muskets" for a more difinative answer. Besides, "Connecticut" was usually abbreviated "Conn." up until the 1970s.

[Bob Roller]

Run the rod down the barrel and make sure that old cannon isn't loaded.
It's a wonderful relic to say the least.

Bob Roller

[Hungry Horse]

 There are Connecticut committee of safety muskets in collections, but most are stamped S.C. which most think stands for South Carolina, but actually stands for State of Connecticut.

              Hungry Horse

[Hungry Horse]

 Good point Bob. I found four loaded muzzleloaders in the local museums collection. We pulled the charges, and took the powder outside, and lit it with a match. It was as good as the day it was loaded. An accident waiting for a victim.


                         Hungry Horse

[YANKEEDROIE]

Joe the owner:
I check all my pieces for live rounds, thank you though its a life saver for the novice. . From my research the initials stamped were not in keeping with modern abbreviations. They are all over the place and the data I found was incomplete. That said the mark over CT ( flame or similar) which I forget what it is at the moment , was used in these safety committee colonial stampings. Therefor the gun may be an early one or at least the barrel. The stock and barrel tang don't mate . I am looking into the lock maker as well but no luck so far. I have a club foot similar to this bit I believe its a model 1730s -50s French musket. Definitely a Rev. War piece.

[DaveM]

According to Schmidt's US Flintlock Muskets, this CT Proof is believed to be that of Lewis Griskey in Philadelphia who inspected 1808 us contract musket barrels.  The lock pan and eagle design also support the 1808 contract muskets made about 1810.  Earlier us contracts made in the charleville style had faceted pans.  Neat musket- seems like the barrel is original to the gun- maybe a replaced or repaired tang?

[JTR]

From Sellers American Gunsmiths, the W.N & S on the tail of the lock could be; Winner, Nippes & Stienman. Phila PA. for 1808 contract muskets.

John

[YANKEEDROIE]

You guys are the best.
I just ran a check on a web sit and found the following.

WINNER, NIPPES & CO.— Pennsylvania musket makers. Contractors
of July 20, 1808, for 9,000 Model 1808 muskets, five years dura-
tion. Of these 3,900 were delivered by Oct. 7, 1812.

And again your intuition on the barrel and stock being as one are correct, the tang is replaced as you stater it could have been.

This is in keeping with the hat plate which is Connecticut militia dating in this period according to the only one Iv found.
If interested in having a look at it , its a dandy at
http://pinterest.com/operahill/period-military/

Thanks again guys.
Jo

[debnal]

I have seen several authentic CT COS muskets and this is not one of them. I don't believe this one is as early as the Rev War. I own a Medad Hills signed COS CT musket, regimentally marked and CT on it is abbreviated CONNct. The small ct is superscript. It is interesting that the abbreviation for CT in the 18th century was a combination of the two abbreviations that we use today. Some of the muskets I have seen were marked with the SC mentioned previously. Nice musket though.
Al

[satwel]

Nice musket and a great find! Is the bayonent rusted in place or can you remove it?

[YANKEEDROIE]

Bayonet is a repro I think and doesn't fully attach. It comes off

[tallbear]

Compliments of Jim Whisker

Winner, James. gunsmith. 1810, 463 N. 3d St.; 1813, 104 Walnut St. Winner, Nippes & Co. [Dirs]. On 20 July 1808 Winner, Nippes & Co. contracted to make 9000 Model 1808 muskets within 5 years. On 7 October 1812 they had made 3900 arms. Winner, Nippes & Steinman. James Winner, Daniel Nippes and Frederick Steinman. A few Model 1808 muskets bear this mark and may be within the Winner, Nippes & Co. contract.
 
 
 
Steinman, Frederick. gunsmith. 1825-33, 31 Green St.; 1835-36, Elizabeth St. [Stranger's Guide; Dirs.]
 
 
 
Nippes, Daniel, Jr. gun manufacturer and arms contractor. 1813-1861, Philadelphia [City Dirs]. There was also a manufactory in Lower Marion Twp., Montgomery County. In the 1830s he took over the Rose Glen Mill on Mill Creek. Many contract muskets are marked Mill Creek. Between 9 March 1839 and 1 January 1846 he supplied the federal government with 4000 Model 1840 muskets at $14.75 per stand. On 3 March 1846 he contracted to deliver an additional 1600 stands at $14.75 each. In 1848 his firm converted 2000 muskets to use the Maynard priming system. The 1850 Census of Manufactures showed that Nippes had a $10,000 capital investment, employed 20 men, and used water power. Over the previous 12 months he used 6000 pounds of iron worth $300, 7000 pounds of steel that cost $1190, 600 pounds of brass at a cost of $168, 64 gallons of oil worth $83, and miscellaneous products at a cost of $500. He had produced 250 long arms worth $8750 [Gardner, Small Arms Makers, 141]. He was a member of a famous gun making family which included Abraham, Sr.; Abraham, Jr.; Albert; Daniel, Sr.,; Charles; and William Daniel.
 
 
 
The musket is clearly NOT Committee of Safety contract which were made during the Revolution, but a federal contract made long after, in response to Militia Act of 1808. The CT would indeed show issuance to State of Connecticut.