🔎 UNIDENTIFIED 1840s Cap Musket

[EnvoyToTheMolePeople]

Hello everybody. I'm thinking about buying myself this musket from the 1840s, but I don't know a whole lot about it. Really I'm trying to figure out if it is actually original or not. It's just about 5 feet long, is percussion cap, and has a barrel that starts octagonal and becomes round. Also, at the end of the stock, you can see a silver colored metal cap of some sort just below the rod. I don't know what kind of metal it is, but I can scratch it with my fingernail. Unfortunately I don't have many pictures of it. The owner says it's .62 Caliber. The lock is stamped "Lanster, PA". Yes, Lanster and not Lancaster. I did find a Kentucky rifle with a similarly stamped lock located here: https://issuu.com/dreamedia/docs/catalog151_civil_war/63

The strange parts are definitely the hybrid round/octagon barrel, the soft silver metal piece, and the stamp for a city that doesn't seem to exist.

It's definitely cool, but I know so little about it that I'm not sure if I'm comfortable buying it. Can anybody give me an idea if it is original or a replica. How much might it be worth? Thanks.

 

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[EnvoyToTheMolePeople]

Here's a little update. I found a similar one with a full stock. https://www.ancestryguns.com/shop/a...ng-piece-homestead-militia-smoothbore-musket/

 

[NHBandit]

Need clear pictures of any markings on the lock and on the barrel

 

[EnvoyToTheMolePeople]

Need clear pictures of any markings on the lock and on the barrel

These are the only pictures I have availalbe. As far as I know, there are no markings on the barrel, just "Lanster, PA" on the lock.

 

[Retired Sarge]

These are the only pictures I have availalbe. As far as I know, there are no markings on the barrel, just "Lanster, PA" on the lock.

Is it marked LANCASTER, LANCTR or LANCER? Reason I ask is I can't find a LANSTER marked lockplate in my searches.

Disregard I just read the first post where you said it was LANSTER. I'll do some more digging.

 

[Almy]

The overall shape and finishing does not seem to me to be American. The soft metal you mention and the flat along the bottom of the stock are further clues. Could be handmade in the far East.

 

[Retired Sarge]

Other than the first one you linked, I can't find anything that references a LANSTER PA made lock plate. So I'm totally perplexed at the moment. They mentioned it, but didn't show a picture of the stamp.

Screenshot of the blurb from the first link you provided, with mention of the LEHMAN LANSTER PA marked lockplate, for ease of other members.

 

[EnvoyToTheMolePeople]

Other than the first one you linked, I can't find anything that references a LANSTER PA made lock plate. So I'm totally perplexed at the moment. They mentioned it, but didn't show a picture of the stamp.

Screenshot of the blurb from the first link you provided, with mention of the LEHMAN LANSTER PA marked lockplate, for ease of other members.

View attachment 2068752

Weird, isn't it. I have no idea why they would abbreviate like that. It could be the same manufacturer

 

[l.cutler]

Really need better pictures to say much, but it definitely isn't a musket. Either a fowling piece or a smooth rifle. The nose cap is pewter, very common on early to mid 19th century guns.

 

[EnvoyToTheMolePeople]

Really need better pictures to say much, but it definitely isn't a musket. Either a fowling piece or a smooth rifle. The nose cap is pewter, very common on early to mid 19th century guns.

I've never heard of a smooth rifle.

 

[l.cutler]

I've never heard of a smooth rifle.

They had rifle architecture, and rifle sights but were smoothbore. The gun pictured has rifle type triggerguard and butt plate, but I can't make out if it has a rear sight or not.

 

[EnvoyToTheMolePeople]

They had rifle architecture, and rifle sights but were smoothbore. The gun pictured has rifle type triggerguard and butt plate, but I can't make out if it has a rear sight or not.

It does, I checked when I held it

 

[l.cutler]

It does, I checked when I held it

Ok, then if there is rifling in the barrel, then it is a rifle, smoothbore and it is a smooth rifle. Of course there is always the chance that it was a rifle that has had the rifling worn away as well.