Creation Date

1850s
1852 – 1865

Description

Civil War Musket. A Model 1842 .69 caliber smooth bore musket made in Springfield, MA in 1852. There is an eagle stamped into the top, along with "Springfield 1852." The model 1842 was the first US musket to use percussion caps instead of a flint lock. It is a muzzle loader. The screw holding the firing mechanism is missing. It appears that a screw is missing from the top as well. It has a holder for a sling. There is no bayonet included. The letters VP are stamped on the barrel.
A label found in the office read "Veteran Hans A. Lageson brought as souvenir & used during pioneer days, late 1860's. Homestad East side Lake Sve-No-Da (Svensk-Norsk-Dane) now known as Lageson farm." That gun was donated to the historical society September 1953.

The Lageson family thought that their gun was once hanging on the wall of the trapper cabin. This may be theirs.