Guns International #: 102879860
Seller's Inventory #: CBP22-37

Category - Military Rifles - Antique - Military Rifles - US

Category
Military Rifles - Antique
Military Rifles - US

1826 Vintage R & J.D. Johnson U.S. Model of 1817 Flintlock "Common Rifle" in .54 Caliber Cap & Ball ** RARE Handsome Original **

Description:
This is a really cool and very significant piece of American history that you can hold in your hands, and one of the most important tools that a person could own in early 1800's America. This is an all-original U.S. Model of 1817 Flintlock Rifle manufactured by the R & J.D. Johnson Company of Middletown, Connecticut in the year 1826.  Known as the "Common Rifle" dating back to it's actual time in use to differentiate between it and the breechloading Hall's Patent Model 1819 rifle, the Model 1817 Flintlock was built entirely by contractors based off of pattern rifles provided to each contractor from the famous Harper's Ferry Armory.  The U.S. Model of 1817 flintlock rifle was made from 1817 up to the early 1840's, with the majority of these rifles built during in the 1820's. There were about 38,200 of these Model 1817 rifles built total, combining all five manufacturers production.  U.S. Military Contracts were awarded to the following 5 contractors during it's production run: H. Derringer of Philadelphia, PA.(approx 13,000 mfg.), R. Johnson of Middletown, CT.(approx 5,000 mfg.), R & J.D. Johnson of Middletown, CT.(approx 3,000 mfg.), N. Starr of Middletown, CT.(approx 10,020 mfg.), and S. North of Middletown, CT.(approx 7,200 mfg.). 
     The U.S. Model 1817 Flintlock Rifle was chambered in .54 caliber and featured a 36" inch round barrel with 7-groove rifling and a browned exterior finish, three barrel bands securing the forearm and barrel together, the mountings were all made of iron, a color case-hardened lockplate with a brass "fenceless" flashpan, a steel ramrod with a trumpet-type flared head which was capped in brass, and an American Walnut wooden stock with an oval-shaped patchbox on the right side of the butt, enclosed by a spring-loaded steel lid with a hinge at the bottom and a release tab at the top center edge of the lid.  The Model 1817 saw all kinds of service both as a military weapon and in the hands of civilians.  It was still in widespread use all over the country well-past the percussion ignition type of rifle becoming the new standard.  Despite it's flint-ignition being a big disadvantage when facing an enemy with percussion muskets, there is substantial evidence that a good number of the U.S. Model of 1817 common rifles saw service in the American Civil War, more so on the Confederate side but present on both sides.  Many of those being used in the Civil War had been converted to percussion, which contributed significantly towards increasing the rarity of rifles still in their original configuration today  This particular example was made by the R & J.D. Johnson firm of Middletown, CT., the firm that made the smallest number of Model 1817's (approx. 3,000) out of the 5 manufacturers. 
     As you can see from the pictures, this is a very nice and handsome example that appears to be totally original.  Every part on this rifle shows age and a patina consistent with the rest of the rifle, making it not only a very good investment piece but a superb display piece.  Nothing looks like it has been excessively cleaned or "improved" by some collector along the way.  All of the metal parts range in color from brown to brown-gray, exactly what you want to see on a rifle of this age.  There are no eyesores or bad spots on the gun, most of the metal has a nice smooth look to it and is in very good condition, with only small areas of shallow pitting where you would expect to see them, like around the flashpan and on top of the barrel aorund the lock.  All of the original factory markings are still intact and visible, including a lot of the fine detail of the eagle below the "U.S." marking and above the R & J.D. Johnson maker-mark on the lockplate.  The lockplate is dated 1826 behind the hammer vertically, and the barrel is stamped 1826 on the upper tang.  The top and left side of the chamber area of the barrel is well marked with "US" over "A.H" over a proof "P", and right above the flat on the left side there is a large "N" and "H" stamped.  Whether this "N H" signifies New Hampshire ownership or something else is not known.  The lock on this rifle is in good working order, with strong spring pressure on the frizzen open or closed, and both the half and full-cock notches still intact on the hammer that feel solid.  The trigger works perfectly and will only drop the hammer from full-cock. The bore in this Common Rifle is very good, with strong rifling visible throughout and little pitting.  What little pitting in the bore that is visible is all extremely shallow.  The original sights are also still intact and in good condition, still centered on the bore axis.  The original stock and all of the fittings on this Model 1817 are in great shape.  The Walnut stock is free from any major cracks, damage, or repairs, and shows only numerous minor handling marks and nicks/dings/dents that you would expect to see on a flintlock of this age.  The original barrel bands are all still intact and in-place, as are the steel bandsprings holding them in place.  As far as deductions go on the stock hardware, the middle barrel band is missing the sling swivel, and the original screw in the top barrel tang has one side broken off from the slot.  The original steel buttplate is still nice and tight to the wood, and the "U.S." stamp is still clear and legible.  The original factory steel patchbox on this flintlock is in great shape.  The hinge is in perfect shape and is still tight, and the spring-loaded door stays locked closed unless the release tab at the upper edge is pressed firmly to open it.  The hollowed out compartment is solid and clean, and all of the patchbox hardware is intact except for one screw that is missing on the lower hinge plate, visible in picture 6 to the right of the steel spring that puts tension on the door.  The nosecap, ramrod, and triggerguard / lower tang are all in very good condition.  All in all, this is one of the nicest original U.S. Model 1817 Flintlocks we have seen in a long time, and it would be a superb addition to any antique American arms collection.  If only certain guns could talk, one could only imagine what amazing American history this piece has witnessed.  The last picture in this listing is a map of America in 1826, which will give you a good idea of how much of the country was still totally wild and inhabited by only wildlife and indians.                    

Price: $2,950.00

Antique: Yes
Rifle Caliber: .54
Manufacturer: R & J.D. Johnson
Model: U.S. Model 1817 Flintlock Rifle - "Common Rifle
Serial Number: None
Barrel Length: 36" Inches
Condition: Very Good
Metal Condition: Very Good
Wood Condition: Very Good
Bore Condition: Very Good
Action: Muzzle-Loading Flintlock
Finish: Browned / Case Colored
Sights: Fixed Iron Sights
Manufacture Date: 1826