1809 Prussian Potsdam

[Countryboy90]

I picked up a Prussian Potsdam at auction a few weeks ago and have a question about it. I know the North imported a lot of these during the civil war. This one was made by Saarn but it also has US MIL stamped next to the word Saarn.I haven't seem enough of these to know if the North put US MIL on these muskets or not. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Welcome to CivilWarTalk.

Once your registration is completed, you'll be able to upload photos.
We would love to see your Prussian Postdam

 

[James N.]

Unfortunately I can't answer your question, but welcome to the forums anyway!

 

[Grayrock Volunteer]

Generally speaking Federal imports do not bare any markings indicating US military usage. My feelings are that the markings on yours are post war. I would like to see some photos if you can post them.

 

[johan_steele]

Will need to see some pictures as that doesn't sound quite right.

 

[kevikens]

I have a German musket, from Prussia, originally manufactured as a percussion gun (the 1809 would have been a flint lock converted to percussion) in Suhl. It was originally made for and issued to the German Federal Navy (naval anchor and cartouches) created in 1849 but disbanded just a few years later. In 1861 several hundred of these muskets were purchased by the City of Philadelphia and issued to the Phila. City Guard. Before they received them they were sent to the Wurflein Brothers, noted Philly gunsmiths, for inspection. If they passed the tests (almost all did as they were originally well made and little used) the Wurflein Brothers stamped them with their name and City of Philadelphia. They are the only additional markings added to the imported firearms. That City Guard was only once activated for combat, late summer of 1862 so the guns again saw little use. After the war most were nickel plated and given to the local GAR who used them for decades in their parades. Some of these Suhl muskets, not the ones issued to the German Navy (no anchor and cartouches), also wound up in the States where some of them saw some hard usage. They are not marked with the Wurflein brothers name nor the City of Phila. I have never noticed if any of them had some other American markings added.

 

[Camp Randall Armory]

I've never seen any civil war arms marked "US MIL"

 

[Countryboy90]

You have to zoom in but you can see it next to the word Saarn. I am learning so please help me out

 

[Jobe Holiday]

The markings you have shown have been added much later than the Civil War usage of the musket. Note how they are stamped over the old patina.
J.

 

[Countryboy90]

Either way I picked it up for $250 so it didn't cost an arm and a leg

 

[chellers]

Welcome to CivilWarTalk and thanks for posting your pics.

 

[kevikens]

It seems to have been "sporterized" post manufacture. Notice the removal of wood to the forestock, the large, probably replacement fennels for the wooden ramrod, possibly shortened barrel. Most likely done after its life in the Civil War. But at $250 I would have bought it as it is a tangible connection to the war and probably has some very interesting stories behind it. I'd be hesitant about shooting it, but on the wall it beats a modern repro hands down.

 

[Craig L Barry]

Yeah, I would have to agree with the gang that the US MIL was stamped into the lock plate post-bellum. This was not a characteristic of US Civil War-era military imports of any type. Wouldn't let it bother me for a second though, great conversation piece that will look excellent over your fireplace. Certainly representative of the type European arms that Union soldiers were using with some in the ranks until mid-1863. Wouldn't live fire it on a bet, though.

 

[originalrebelyell]

Very interesting gun I have always wanted a Potsdam