Many US flint muskets were never issued. Also, Ordnance Dept policy was to issue the oldest arms first. National Armory muskets to the Regular Army and contractor muskets, 1798 or 1808 Contracts, to state militia.
Many thousands of the new National Armory muskets dispersed to the various Federal Arsenals, where they sat forgotten as newer more "up to date" muskets came in. When Lt Peter Hagner's inspectors arrived at the various Federal Arsenals to inspect the arms for suitability for percussion alteration, they found crates full of brand new unissued older arms, like the M1795 muskets, which were determined to be obsolete. They were ultimately sold as surplus. Some have survived in new condition, having never been issued.
