M1822 Percussion Conversion Musket..69 caliber ball. Harper’s Ferry, Virginia: 1822. Lockplate stamped with a federal eagle and "US," and "Harpers / Ferry / 1826" to the rear of the hammer. Carved initials “W.L.N.” above trigger plate. Period tag on stock with cursive script. Barrel 41 3/4 in. Overall 57 in. long.

Circa 1930s paper tag affixed to stock inscribed: “Musket 71 / years old / Carried through / Civil War by / Fred Munch / uncle of  M.W. Munch / At Battle of Shi[loh]."

Frederick Munch mustered into Company E of the 33rd Ohio Infantry as a private on 12 September 1861, mustering out as a corporal on 12 August 1865. The 33rd Ohio was hard-fought, participating in several bloody battles in the Western Theater, including Stones River, Chickamauga, and Missionary Ridge, before joining Sherman's Atlanta Campaign, March to the Sea, and Carolina's Campaign. His gun would be acquired by his nephew, M.W. Munch, a popular druggist in the town of Lovington, Illinois. 

Most of the metal is smooth with a thick, untouched, chocolate patina over all of the surfaces. The breech area exhibits light to moderate pitting, typical of percussion arms that saw heavy service. Wood is worn near the lock from use. Lock is functional. The bore is dark brown and shows scattered pitting along its length.

The m1822 was an improvement upon the m1816, with some documentation referring to it as the m1822 Type II. Many of these, including this example, were converted to percussion lock. The m1822 was primarily used in the Mexican-American War, though later employed in the Civil War as well. While the Union eventually phased these models out by 1862, the less-well-equipped Confederate Army would continue to use them up until the Battle of Gettysburg. 

 
Note: This lot cannot be packaged and shipped in-house. Successful bidders winning items marked as being packaged and shipped by a third-party service are responsible for paying the third party directly. We are happy to offer complimentary drop-off service to local third-party packing/shipping companies in Columbus, Ohio.

 
[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Firearm, Colt, Pistol, Revolver, Rifle, Musket, Smith and Wesson, Springfield]