musket buttplate

[Boilermaker27]

I found this musket buttplate in Missouri at the site of a sharp skirmish. Union troops after evacuating Ford Davidson made a 39 hour retreat and made a stand at the Huzzah River, after crossing the river, this stopped the pursuing Confederates who took cover in the hills above the river. This buttplate was found in a ravine near the river. Reason I am giving this information is because it would probably be a Confederate musket as the Union troops were all on the other side of the Huzzah Creek. I have been trying to identify the type of musket it came from but not having much luck. I have included some pictures. There are some almost impossible to read letters at the end of the buttplate but I can't really make out the name. I can make out some letters and it looks like MISSIG, or something like that. There are at least two letters "S" next to each other. Measurements are 4" X 2 1/8. Any ideas would be helpful.

 

[DCMatt]

I'm not really a gun guy but I will guess post Civil War - Model 1866 Winchester

 

[Boilermaker27]

Since it was found at the site of the skirmish it is assuredly civil war. There are many kinds of similar butt plates and just can't find many pictures so a real expert would know.

 

[relic lover]

It has a crude handmade look to it. If it was Confederate it might have been from a converted Flintlock it just looks really old to me.

 

[Fullstock]

It looks like the buttplate from a Kentucky Rifle

 

[nhbenz]

When I read the stamp I see a letter/number combo: N15NIA ...which is probably wrong, and not of help, but that was the only chance I had of being of any help... and I probably blew it.

 

[relic lover]

It looks like the buttplate from a Kentucky Rifle

That's what I was thinking

 

[austin]

I agree with Fullstock, Kentucky rifle. Way too old to be a Henry or Winchester. Southern musket was good for shooting squirrels, deer, possums, bears or Yankees.

 

[l.cutler]

Definitely not a musket, it is from a rifle. Rifles would have the crescent shape, muskets were flatter.

 

[Boilermaker27]

I did find some similar butt plates on some civil war carbines, but the pictures showed no detail other than a side view. It is not a one of a kind butt plate because of the letters. Going to be real hard to find out what the letters mean/say and maybe then it could be identified to which rifle it came from.

 

[DCMatt]

I did find some similar butt plates on some civil war carbines, but the pictures showed no detail other than a side view. It is not a one of a kind butt plate because of the letters. Going to be real hard to find out what the letters mean/say and maybe then it could be identified to which rifle it came from.

The pictures are almost good enough for us to read - but not quite. Try taking some in natural light. Some straight on and some at various angles.