Mexican-American War-era US Model 1842 musket and bayonet, NSN, .69 caliber, 42" barrel with a very good, lightly pitted bore. This musket has an 1847 dated Harpers Ferry lock with matching barrel and full complement of legible proofs at the breech. The metal has been cleaned to an overall pewter gray patina with scattered small spots of darker plum-brown freckling scattered throughout, as well as some remaining traces of mild pitting at the barrel breech and on the nipple bolster. Even freckling is present on the lockplate, but the markings are still crisp and clear, and there are some areas of light pitting present on the hammer.
The walnut stock is in good plus condition with numerous handling marks and surface blemishes scattered about the thick, added oil finish. No inspector cartouche is visible, however there is a relatively crisp "4" stamp on the left side of the stock, just behind the sideplate. The action is tight and fully functional, with a correct, trumpet-headed ramrod also included. The musket is accompanied by an original "US" marked socket bayonet that measures 20 1/2" overall, with a 17 1/2" angular blade having a single wide fuller and hollow-ground back flutes. The metal has a mostly plum-brown patina with gray metal present along the raised edges. No scabbard is included. This is a great looking Model 1842 smoothbore musket, made by a desirable federal armory, and is in very good plus condition. Antique.
