.57 caliber smoothbore. 40" barrel secured by three flat, spring retained barrel bands. NSN. Bright finish, iron furniture, walnut stock. Single shot percussion muzzleloading smoothbore cadet musket with no rear sight, brass blade front sight, sling swivels on the triggerguard bow and middle barrel band and a full-length trumpet head ramrod that is missing the threads at the end. Lock with standard Springfield markings, dated "1852" at the tail. Breech with standard "V/P/{Eagle Head}" proof marks and dated "1852" on the tang. No cartouches are visible on the counterpane.

The Model 1851 Cadet Musket was produced circa 1851-1853 for use by military academies and schools around the country, with some 4,000 produced during that time. As it was functionally identical to the previous Model 1841 Cadet Musket that was in use at West Point, none of the smoothbore 1851 muskets were sent to West Point, rather they saw use at locations like the Virginia Military Institute, where they would be used against Union forces a decade later. Later a small number of Model 1851 Cadet Muskets were rifled and had long range rear sights added, and those guns were issued to the West Point cadets. A scarce musket that fits well in a Civil War long arms collection. {ANTIQUE}

About Very Good. Bore moderately oxidized with some roughness. Metal lightly cleaned to bright, with crisp markings and some lightly scattered freckles of oxidation and some minor pinpricking here and there. Mechanically functional lock. Wood lightly sanded with decent edges, showing two areas on either side of the tang where the wood has been repaired. Otherwise the wood shows scattered bumps, dings and mars from handling and use.