Rifleman Q&A: A Curious Concoction

by
posted on November 19, 2024
** 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. **
U.S. Model 1816 flintlock musket
Converted muskets and other military arms often still bear original proofmarks from before the time of their modification.
Photo courtesy of NRA member.

Q. My husband owns an antique fowling piece, and we wish to establish a possible date range during which it could have been made. It is interesting to note that the barrel is from a Springfield Model 1816 smoothbore musket mated to a custom Atkinson lock and beautiful half stock. It seems doubtful that Atkinson is the maker of this piece, although it may be possible. We hope that you will be able to shed a little bit more light and knowledge about this gun.


A. Your husband’s interesting shotgun appears to have been fabricated by some circa-1840-’50s gunmaker using the barrel (and possibly the stock) from a U.S. Model 1816 flintlock musket. The sporting-style percussion lockplate bears the name “Atkinson,” who could have been the fabricator of the piece or perhaps just the maker of the lock. It was not uncommon during this period for smiths to specialize in various components (locks, barrels, furniture, etc.), which were sold piecemeal to craftsmen who used them to build entire firearms.

I checked several sources and was unable to turn up who Atkinson was from the period this gun was likely constructed.

Latest

Robbins And Lawrence Armory Vermont
Robbins And Lawrence Armory Vermont

The Robbins & Lawrence Story: Pioneers Of Mass Production

The Robbins & Lawrence company of Windsor, Vt., was an early pioneer in the field of mass production, using machine tools and interchangeable parts to produce firearms for both the U.S. and British governments.

CMP Auctions Move To GunBroker.com

The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) has moved its popular auctions to GunBroker.com, an online firearm marketplace that launched in 1999, to further support the future of the shooting sports and firearm ownership.

I Have This Old Gun: The French Charleville Musket

One of the most important military arms ever made, the French Charleville musket saw use in the American Revolution and armed French troops throughout the Napoleonic Wars.

CVA Endura Series: The Modernized Muzzleloader Of 2025

CVA built on the success of its Paramount muzzleloader to create the Endura, a design that the company calls "the most advanced muzzleloader series CVA has ever built."

Review: FN 15 Guardian

FN America has sought to bring its legendary quality and reliability to an AR-15 that lists for just $999, and we believe that it has done this well with its 15 Guardian carbine.

Springfield Armory Hellcat Now Available In .380 ACP

Despite the extensive number of Hellcat models in its lineup, Springfield Armory has only offered the pistol in one chambering, 9 mm Luger, until now. The .380 ACP model offers similar capabilities with softer recoil.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.