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08-30-2009, 08:07 PM
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#1
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Cival war musket(toon)??
Hello all, I am looking for any info on this musket or musketoon. It is a WM Mason Taunton musket dated 1863, with an Eagle, US and VP marked on the weapon. I believe it is US mil issue from the cival war and it is only 39 inches long, which leads me toward muketoon but I am no not sure. I know very little about this gun except for the maker was from Taunton Mass and he also made locomotives. It seems rare because I cannot find anything like it on the web but again unsure. It has some brass tacks or nails in the stock, which I was told signify kills/battles. I am looking for any help in the identity or signifigance of this musket. I have enclosed some pics and appreciate the help.
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08-31-2009, 12:36 AM
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#2
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Location: Heidelberg,MS
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You can't find anything like it because it's not in it's original configuration. Taunton had a contract to supply the U.S. Government with 1861 Springfield rifles of which you have one of. Unfortunately yours has been cut down and the ramrod hole has been enlarged to accept a wooden ramrod. The tacks are decorations probably added after the war.
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08-31-2009, 01:03 AM
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#3
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1861
Thank you HAWG, that makes sense. I was only seeing the long muskets in my searches. What do you think this is worth after being cut down like this? Thanks in advance.
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08-31-2009, 02:20 AM
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#4
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As Hawg stated, your rifle is an 1861 Springfield Rifle Musket - Cal. 58.
Wm. Mason of Taunton Mass. was awarded a US Gov't contract on Jan. 7th, 1862 to produce 50,000 Mod. 1861 Rifles for $20 a piece. He delivered 30,000.
On the same date, contracts were also awarded to James Mulholland, also for 50,000 Mod. 1861 Springfield rifles , of which he delivered 5,502 also at $20 a piece, and Amoskeag Mfg. Co. in Maine, for 10,000 rifles of which they delivered 10,001 for $20 a piece.
Amoskeag Mfg. later received two more contracts for the same rifle on Nov.5th, 1863 for 15,000 Rifles at $19 each, all of which they delivered, and then again on Jan.6th, 1865 for 2,000 Rifles which were also delivered for $19 each.Many other companies were contracted to manufacture the 1861 Springfield including Savage, Colt, Eli Whitney, J.D. Mowry, Providence Tool Co., Remington, Norwich Arms Co., A.Jenks & Co., Eagle Mfg, and a dozen other obscure manufacturers. The total number contracted for between 1861 and 1865 was 1,525,000
Total number delivered was 643,439
__________________
Guns Have Only Two Enemies-Rust and Politicians
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If Guns Kill, Do Pencils Mis-spell Words?
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Last edited by RL357Mag; 08-31-2009 at 02:22 AM.
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08-31-2009, 03:18 PM
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#5
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Quote:
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What do you think this is worth after being cut down like this?
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Not a lot. I've seen cut down Springfields go for as little as 400. Yours being rarer might bring 5-600.
Quote:
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Wm. Mason of Taunton Mass. was awarded a US Gov't contract on Jan. 7th, 1862 to produce 50,000 Mod. 1861 Rifles for $20 a piece. He delivered 30,000.
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I might ought to look it up but I'm thinking the Taunton contract was for 100,000 and the government cut it off after 30,000
At any rate there were 30,000 of them made.
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08-31-2009, 04:15 PM
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#6
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Location: Albany,New York
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawg
I might ought to look it up but I'm thinking the Taunton contract was for 100,000 and the government cut it off after 30,000
At any rate there were 30,000 of them made.
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His inability to fulfill the contract is why he only produced 30,000. This is also why Amoskeag was awarded multiple contracts, to make up for Mason's shortfall, although by this time the full contract amount of 50,000 was no longer needed.
__________________
Guns Have Only Two Enemies-Rust and Politicians
"The United States Constitution (c) 1791 - All Rights Reserved"
If Guns Kill, Do Pencils Mis-spell Words?
Pain is Weakness Leaving the Body - USMC
"Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum"
Last edited by RL357Mag; 08-31-2009 at 04:29 PM.
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08-31-2009, 06:40 PM
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#7
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Sounds reasonable.
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11-01-2009, 12:41 PM
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#8
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Posts: 10
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WM Mason Machine Works
Quote:
Originally Posted by navyflyer
Hello all, I am looking for any info on this musket or musketoon. It is a WM Mason Taunton musket dated 1863, with an Eagle, US and VP marked on the weapon. I believe it is US mil issue from the cival war and it is only 39 inches long, which leads me toward muketoon but I am no not sure. I know very little about this gun except for the maker was from Taunton Mass and he also made locomotives. It seems rare because I cannot find anything like it on the web but again unsure. It has some brass tacks or nails in the stock, which I was told signify kills/battles. I am looking for any help in the identity or signifigance of this musket. I have enclosed some pics and appreciate the help.
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Hello:It also might be interesting to note that WM mason Machine Works had patents that ran all the way to May of 1907. for winchester arms. Pete
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