Patterned after the M1841 and possibly made by Joseph J. Martin of Tilton, Georgia. It consists of a walnut stock, 33 in. barrel with a .69 caliber smooth bore, is 48.5 in. overall length, has a civilian hammer and lockplate with engraved floral sprays, its brass hardware includes the buttplate, trigger guard, trigger and barrel bands. Civilian firearm parts were re-configured here to produce a crude military longarm of necessity. The musket shares several characteristics with an excessively rare marked Confederate weapon in the Virginia Historical Society collection. The VHS specimen, though marked TILTON/ GA and 1861 on the lockplate, features an identical hammer, similar cast-off shotgun parts and pins securing the barrel bands rather than the factory made spring mechanisms favored by the military. The Virginia Tilton, however, has a later .58 caliber barrel with front and rear sights.

Private Collection Durham, North Carolina

Action loose, but working in both full and half cock; overall stable pitting to the iron elements; stock with 3 in. horizontal crack behind the lockplate and two substantial cracks on the left side, one of which is pinned together. Fair condition.

$2,000 - 4,000