Real or Faux? Old Civil War Era Musket

Then would anyone know of a good place to get started. I don't have much money to spend so I was preferably looking for something under 1,000$. I'm aware that if I'm looking to collect something that is usually pricey then I should've come with more money to spend but unfortunately that is not the case.

The place to get started is by studying the different models, learn to recognize the subtle differences between them so that you know if something is all original or not. You will save yourself a lot of grief if you just do that. Books are what everyone, including me, recommend. However, the internet has become a repository of a great deal of information. Here is a great place to start for learning the basics about the various types that were used and the differences between them: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon0000-Index.html

I will ask you at this point do you know what your goal is? Do you want a particular model, or do you just want something that was used in the war? You can save a lot of money if it is the latter. A percussion conversion of a Model 1816 in very nice shape can be had for $600 pretty easily. I once bought a very nice Austrian Model 1854 Lorenz, a type imported and used in the war, for $150 at an auction. I was likely the only person there that knew what it was.

A while back I created a thread with some basic advice for new collectors. If I say so myself, it still has some good stuff in it.

You did good by coming here and asking questions before you bought anything. Don't be afraid to ask more questions. There are a lot of people here that are very knowledgeable and will be happy to help.
 
Then would anyone know of a good place to get started. I don't have much money to spend so I was preferably looking for something under 1,000$. I'm aware that if I'm looking to collect something that is usually pricey then I should've come with more money to spend but unfortunately that is not the case.
I would suggest that you google "civil war shows" and find out if there are any coming up within reasonable distance from you. Not only will you find a number of guns for sale, you will have a fun day out. But again, do your research. The Springfield Models 1861 and 1863 are good to start with, so research them specifically. There are honest, trustworthy dealers out there and there some who aren't, so you really need to know what to look for in a gun.

Look at dealers on-line as well. Start with College Hill Arsenal.
Not only will you get a good variety of items for sale, they are all well researched and you will learn a lot just by reading about each gun. You won't find any junk on that site, and it is priced accordingly, but he is always helpful and good to work with.

I have about 20 dealers whose sites I look at regularly. That's a good way to learn too. If you want, I can send you URL's for some of them by private message.

Others here, I'm sure will give you helpful advice. We all want you to do well on this.

Invest time before you invest money.
 
I would suggest that you google "civil war shows" and find out if there are any coming up within reasonable distance from you. Not only will you find a number of guns for sale, you will have a fun day out. But again, do your research. The Springfield Models 1861 and 1863 are good to start with, so research them specifically. There are honest, trustworthy dealers out there and there some who aren't, so you really need to know what to look for in a gun.

Look at dealers on-line as well. Start with College Hill Arsenal.
Not only will you get a good variety of items for sale, they are all well researched and you will learn a lot just by reading about each gun. You won't find any junk on that site, and it is priced accordingly, but he is always helpful and good to work with.

I have about 20 dealers whose sites I look at regularly. That's a good way to learn too. If you want, I can send you URL's for some of them by private message.

Others here, I'm sure will give you helpful advice. We all want you to do well on this.

Invest time before you invest money.
Thanks for the info. Unfortunately shows are out of the option as I live in Puerto Rico and there's little to no collectors, so I have to relly almost exclusively to online purchases.
 
Welcome from Tennessee @BienGator.
If that is an Island find from a local, maybe he is willing to barter? The cost and regulations for shipping a rifle I don't know, but it may be a bit of a hassle, plus insurance!
Lubliner.
 
I have been looking to start collecting muskets and was looking for an cheaper American musket. I came across this 1863 Springfield musket, but I am aware that replicas of these exist. I was offered to buy this one, though I was tempted, I'd rather prefer to consult with a more knowledgeable crowd on the matterView attachment 333115View attachment 333116View attachment 333117View attachment 333118View attachment 333119View attachment 333120
Looking at the lockplate, very hard to read, but it looks very much like a Colt Pattern special contract. They used a very similar hammer, and the bands had screws versus band springs.
 
Actually now that you mention it, the one offering it says it was purchased from a family in South Carolina. BTW thanks all for the good advice. They're asking around 400$ for it still on the fence about it. But the fact that it came from South Carolina strikes me as odd.
Imagining a story about the piece in order to justify a purchase, is a very bad mistake. Confederates did cobble together pieces, but did so with the correct captured cannibalized parts and usually arsenal marked. This piece is not one of those. The piece in question, I am almost positive, is not a Confederate used piece, why, the Confederates late in the war used very corrosive caps. The piece in question shows zero evidence of burnout, extreme pitting etc. Most likely a surplus piece bought from Bannerman and used as a fowler, then played with at a later date, the stock has been sanded and the buttplate replaced, as it rested in a wet area on the butt. Just my opinion.
 
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FWIW, I think the bulk of it is actually a Model 1861 Special by Lamson, Goodnow, & Yale. The shape of the buttstock, what there are of the lock markings, and the shape of the barrel bolster are all correct for this model. The hammer, and ramrod are incorrect replacements, as previously noted, and the rear sight is obviously missing. I'm not too sure about the front barrel band either, but, otherwise, it looks to me like it is all original. I don't know if is worth the money asked or not, I agree with the advice to get a nice one, but thought I would share that much. Here is a previous thread on one of these rifle-muskets that you can compare it to:
You are dead nuts on L G & Y.
 
Take a look at your credible online sellers like College Hill Arsenal, Horse Soldier, Relicman and Lodgewood to visually see the types and conditions of available arms. With that, you should be able to estimate what kind of price range you will typically find for a gun of that condition. You can always go to an online auction house like rock island auctions, Amoskeag auctions, or Cowans auctions to see what’s available and throw a bid into the ring. Sometimes you get a great deal, other times you are quickly outbid. Most of the items are accurately described and you can always take snapshots of the item and their description from those websites and throw them here on the forum for some advice. The more effort you make to check the authenticity before you place a bid, the better. Just beware of sites like gun broker and guns America, which are flooded with old muskets and arms, many of which are posted by people who have no idea about the weapon they are selling, nor the value that they should be charging. Additionally, many of those rifles and muskets are Cobbled together pieces of junk, inaccurately described or hav knowingly Fraudulent descriptions. Buyer beware.
 
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