Potential Potsdam Musket.... Help!

Joined
Aug 2, 2018
This musket has been sitting around my house for a while and no one knows what it is. I think it is either a Prussian Model 1809 or Bavarian Model 1842. It is a smoothbore and is 4' 1 1/4" long. The only identifying marks on it are "GEWERBEVEREIN MÜNCHEN" stamped on the lock plate, which I've Google Translated to "Trade Association, Munich." There is also a small "s" near the rear of the trigger guard plate. Unfortunately, it appears a previous owner cut the stock.

Can anyone shed light on any information on this firearm?

Thanks!
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Your musket is indeed a Bavarian M1842. Usually, when seen in the U.S. these are equipped with a really unique "elbow" type rear sight ranged for up to 1,000 yards. IIRC, the Bavarian M1842 was designed as a smoothbore musket. The Bavarians later experimented with several rifling and rear sight combinations. I am not sure if the rear sight on your gun represents a later "upgrade" or, as with the Prussian M1809, the sight was applied to smoothbore arms.


Finding parts to restore it would be a real task, but these muskets aren't common to begin with,

Thanks for sharing,
Garrett
 
Hello and welcome from 35 miles north of Gettysburg! Very nice collectible....let me just add for information...my birthday is in October. (just sayin')
We were just in Gettysburg for the 155th! Couldn't help but notice all of the period firearms in the shops around, perhaps you can find a present there :wink:

From W NC
 
Your musket is indeed a Bavarian M1842. Usually, when seen in the U.S. these are equipped with a really unique "elbow" type rear sight ranged for up to 1,000 yards. IIRC, the Bavarian M1842 was designed as a smoothbore musket. The Bavarians later experimented with several rifling and rear sight combinations. I am not sure if the rear sight on your gun represents a later "upgrade" or, as with the Prussian M1809, the sight was applied to smoothbore arms.


Finding parts to restore it would be a real task, but these muskets aren't common to begin with,

Thanks for sharing,
Garrett
Awesome, thanks for responding! There are two marks on the barrel where a different rear sight could have been installed at one time. There's also a small "s" or "8" concealed by the flash glare in the attached picture that I hadn't noticed before.
 

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Welcome From THE Heart Of Dixie. Very Nice Potsdam. Is the ramrod seated all to the way to the base, as it should not stick out past the end of the barrel.
 
Welcome! Thanks for sharing these photos of your piece: I've never seen a Munich manufactured piece before! Any idea of its history in your family?
Looking forward to your perspective in our discussions! Enjoy!
 
Welcome From THE Heart Of Dixie. Very Nice Potsdam. Is the ramrod seated all to the way to the base, as it should not stick out past the end of the barrel.
It wont go down any further. The barrel may have been cut as its overall length is 49.25" but I've read that they should be 56.25"...
 
Welcome! Thanks for sharing these photos of your piece: I've never seen a Munich manufactured piece before! Any idea of its history in your family?
Looking forward to your perspective in our discussions! Enjoy!
Well... My father bought this musket, a model 1873 Springfield trapdoor, and a Hopkins Allen 12 gauge falling block for $125 in the mid 1990s!
 
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