This is an early Model 1816 state of New Jersey contract musket manufactured by M. T. Wickham of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that has been converted to percussion. The Model 1816 musket was the largest production of musket by the national armories of Springfield and Harpers Ferry, with a total of 675,000 between the two. Independent contracts were also granted, including one awarded to gunmakers William and John Henry in 1815 for 12,000 muskets. Wickham took over that contract on 10 May, 1817, as the Henry's had failed to deliver a single musket by that time period. The muskets that Wickham produced under this contract were undated, used Wickham's early locks stamped with W.T. WICKHAM in an arc over PHIL forward of the hammer and were all inspected by George Flagel. Flagel had taken over Wickham's old inspectors job at the Schuylkill Arsenal after Wickham went into business for himself. This weapon eventually went to the state of New Jersey under the Militia Act of 1808. This musket measures 57 3/4" overall and has a 42" smoothbore barrel in .69 caliber. The bore is dark and shows deposits of light rust and debris along the entire length of the barrel. The exterior of the barrel has a brownish patina freckled with spots of gray and traces of the original national bright finish. The proof marks found on the left side of the barrel near the breech read from breech to muzzle, US/P/F. The stamp of S.N.J. is on top of the barrelapproximately 3" forward of the breech plug. There is no visible date on the barrel tang. There is no rear sight, the front sight is a simple blade type on top of the double strap front barrel band. The bayonet lug is located on top of the barrel 1 1/2" behind the muzzle. The barrel is retained by three bands, with the front sling swivel being attached to the middle band. The rear sling swivel is attached to a stud separate from the triggerguard. The bands are retained by springs, the rear and middle springs being in front of the bands. The original ramrod is still with the musket. The lockplate is marked with M.T. WICKHAM in an arc of PHILA forward of the hammer. There is no date on the lock. The original frizzen and brass flash pan have been removed from the lock, the screw holes have not been filled. A large drum conversion has been used to convert this weapon to percussion, along with what looks to be a Germanic type hammer. The number 8 has been stamped into the drum. The mechanics of the lock are strong, with the hammer holding in half and full cock. The butt plate tang is no stamped with US or a date. The walnut stock is in it's untouched, original condition. The barrel and ramrod channels are still pretty crisp and show no wood loss. There are no major cracks in the stock, it only shows the normal bumps and dings from 200 years of handling. The remnants of a New Jersey militia brigade stamp are still visible on the belly of the stock to the left of the trigger guard. I can't make out which county it went to, just barely able to read BRIGADE. The walnut has a dark aged appearance from handling. Overall this is a nice example of a Mexican War era musket that very well could have seen service in the early days of the American Civil War.

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