Guns International #: 100808982
Seller's Inventory #: 10334

Category - Antiques - Military Rifles - Antique

Category
Antiques
Military Rifles - Antique

War of 1812 MASSACHUSETTS State Militia Musket Dated 1815 & Made by Daniel Dana

Description:
Antique Early U.S. Full-Stock Militia Flint Musket

Made Last Year of War of 1812 by Daniel Dana in MA

Here we present an antique Full-Stock Militia Style U.S. Musket, made in 1815 by Daniel Dana of Canton, Massachusetts. This period of United States history saw quite a small national standing army and hosts of statewide militias. These were meant for repelling foreign invasion, creating a barrier between states and the federal government, defending towns from attack and uprisings—especially against Native Americans and slaves, but also from bandits—among other policing duties. Militias were sometimes longstanding, prestigious and influential organizations. At other times they were ad hoc and reactive to the given circumstances. There was a great distrust of a federally controlled militia system or a large standing army in the early days of the Republic.

This particular musket follows a pattern identified by Norm Flayderman as the “New England Flintlock Militia Musket”, of which “The majority were likely made for and issued in the State of Massachusetts and possibly even paid for by local towns or counties. They do conform to a general pattern and style as illustrated, although numerous variations are seen.” The pattern includes a band-less method of securing the barrel to the full length stock (much like the British Brown Bess), .69 caliber, brass fixtures, various sporting-type locks and common breech markings of “P”, “M” and a date. This musket displays all of these traits. The “P” is for “proved”, “M” is for Massachusetts. There is also the initials “P.C.” The date is “1815”. The stock is marked “W.S.”, possibly for inspector William Smith. The lock is marked “D. Dana/Canton”.

Daniel Dana was a gun maker and inventor in Canton, Massachusetts. During his day, he was perhaps best known for his work with Anthony Olney inventing a lathe to turn gun barrels. This machine was adopted by Harpers Ferry and Springfield Armories in about 1818 and a two machine system utilized up until about 1854, according to Harpers Ferry Armory and the New Technology: The Challenge of Change by Merritt Roe Smith. In correspondence to Colonel Bomford, armorer and the tester of several different competing lathe designs Roswell Lee had this to say about Dana and Olney’s machine: “By turning we can get the exact size, shape and uniformity. The Barrel being of the same thickness on every side is less liable to fail in proving and is much better on every account, than when the sides are of unequal thickness, as is frequently the case when ground, on Machine will turn from twenty to twenty five Barrels a day and one man will tend two Machines.”

Overall condition is very good. The barrel is brown gray with a dark grey lock. The markings are all clear and legible. The stock is in good condition with small, old nicks and dings typical of any firearm, whether sporting or military. The bore is in good condition, un-pitted with a small amount of oxidation. The action is not currently functional, needing an adjustment or replacement of a spring.

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction. One example of a Daniel Dana flintlock militia musket found brought $4680.

Barrel is 42 inches in length.
Caliber: .69
The smooth bore is in good condition. The action is mobile, but needs adjustment to hold cock.
Overall condition as seen in photos.    
    
Here is a very interesting and early U.S. milita musket, made the last year of the War of 1812.

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ancestryguns
$2500
#10334

SOLD

Antique: Yes