New Jersey MILITIA HEWES & PHILLIPS M1816 Rifled-Musket CIVIL WAR Antique One of the Most Thorough Conversions of Flintlock Arms

Product Description

New Jersey MILITIA HEWES & PHILLIPS M1816 Rifled-Musket CIVIL WAR Antique

One of the Most Thorough Conversions of Flintlock Arms

Here we present an antique Hewes & Phillips Wickham Model 1816 This was manufactured in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Marine T. Wickham. It would have started out life as a flintlock and was converted to a percussion rifle by Hewes and Phillips circa 1861 for use in the American Civil War. The lock is dated “1835” as the original manufacture date and the tang is dated “1861”, which is when the conversion took place. All the flintlock mechanism was removed from the exterior of the lock plate, the holes filled and ground flat, and the cock replaced with a hammer. The original breech end of the barrel was cut off and a new one attached that had a large and sturdy percussion nipple bolster. The bore was rifled and a multi-leaf rear sight and a tall front post sight was added via a new barrel band. It was marked “H&P” for Hewes & Phillips, the company that did the conversion. “N.J” for New Jersey was marked on the left side of the barrel. New Jersey acquired about 8,000 of these and the reasons are plain: they were the best conversion out there, the best and probably cheapest means to use what New Jersey already had in the armories, the company operated out of Newark, and records indicate that the company sought no profit from the sale of these arms to the state.

The other interesting thing about this rifle is the initials on the left stock flat. They are soldier graffiti rather than an official inspection marking. In our search only 6 soldiers from New Jersey came up with the same initials “W.T.M.” All were William T. and the various last names were a Merrill, a Mitchell, a Mears, a Mead, a Martin, and a Morrison.

The overall condition is near fine. Original finish. The action is excellent. The bore is reflective with good rifling. The stock shows use and remains in great shape.

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 41 inches.

Caliber: .69 Percussion

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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$2700
#230039