Rifleman Q & A: Civil War Import

by
posted on May 15, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
civ.jpg

Q: I’ve acquired an interesting firearm and need help finding more information about it, since my library searches have yielded limited results. The lockplate is stamped “DANZIG 1837” with a crown marking above. It appears to be authentic, but the interesting part is that the gun is a sidelock, percussion musket. My research shows this to be an alteration from its original state. Is there more to know? 

A: Your gun is the Prussian Model 1809 flintlock musket made at the government armory in Danzig (now Gdansk, Poland). Beginning in 1839, almost all were converted to a percussion ignition system, as was yours.

The numbers stamped on the tang of the buttplate show its military use. The “3JR” below the screw probably indicates the 3rd Infantry Regiment. The other numbers may be the rack number of this gun or perhaps indicate its use by a different unit during its lifetime. The metal piece sticking out from the front of the stock fits into an opening at the base of a bayonet to lock it in place.

The U.S. Ordnance Dept. records show that the Union forces in the American Civil War imported 142,823 of these 1809/1839 muskets in 1861 and 1862 when sold as surplus by the Prussian army. As a result, these are quite available for Civil War ordnance collectors.

The collectors call the guns “Potsdam Muskets” because the great majority of them were made at the Potsdam Armory and have “POTSDAM” where “DANZIG” is on the lockplate. Several other armory names can be found, e.g., Suhl, Saarn, et al.

—Michael F. Carrick

Latest

Hopkins & Allen Gunmaker
Hopkins & Allen Gunmaker

Hopkins & Allen: The Armsmaking Giant That Didn't Survive

Founded in 1868 in the northeast U.S., Hopkins & Allen grew from a friendly business venture into a prolific maker of affordable guns for brand names such as Merwin & Hulbert and Forehand & Wadsworth.

Burris Optics Celebrates 50 Years Of Fullfield Riflescopes

Firearms and ammunition ballistics have changed greatly over the last half-century, but one of the biggest leaps in performance hit the scene five decades ago, when Burris Optics introduced its Fullfield line of riflesopes.

I Have This Old Gun: Heckler & Koch P7

In the mid-1970s, the German federal police sought a replacement for its existing World War II-era sidearms and put out stringent guidelines for what it wanted in a handgun. The result was the Heckler & Koch P7.

New For 2025: Smith & Wesson Shield X

Smith & Wesson's new Shield X micro-compact handgun combines elements from the company's M&P Shield Plus with some cues from its smaller Bodyguard 2.0 design.

Review: Tisas PX-5.7 FO

The idea that a faster-moving, lightweight projectile can do the same work as a heavier, slower-moving slug has been around for ages, and the math clearly supports it, even if some in the general public don’t.

NRA Awards Grand Scholarships To 2024 Y.E.S. Students

The Y.E.S. program—which launched in 1996—is held each summer in Washington, D.C., and brings together high-achieving high school students from across the country for a week of immersive learning focused on the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights and American government.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.