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Help identify old musket lock and bayo

2552 Views 4 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  TP
Recently I was cleaning out my Aunt's house after her passing and found an old musket lock and bayonet amongst her possessions. I know for certain that her great grandfather was in the CSA 29th Tennessee Infantry regiment so the items may be his. The lock has some cast-in scroll work on the hammer and plate and a distinctive italic "H" with a backwards arrow as the horizontal line. The lock and bayonet may or may not be from the same rifle but were found together. Also found was a tin of Winchester No. 11 percussion caps. I've trawled the internet and cannot find a match, although these items are similar to the 1854 Enfield. Requisition papers I've seen from the 29th Tennessee show they used both Enfields and "muskets". Any help identifying this hardware is appreciated. A photo of the items is attached.
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The lock seems clearly not to be military but I can't find the marks offhand...

The bayonet...

...is missing its ring. We'd really need lots of measurements and some more pics to help much. Blade length and shape (from front), socket length, O.D., I.D...

Guesstimate US or English War with Mexico and Crimean War era musket-related, respectively, or later. It is quite possible, it seems to me, it is from a P-53 Enfield and, again if English, no later than model 1876 IMO.

Alden
Definitely not a musket lock, probably from a rifle. There may be markings at the base of the bayonet blade but might not be visable due to condition.
Sir, I have three Enfield locks, with rifles attached, in front of me, and this is not an Enfield lock of any kind. Enfield P42 through P53 locks have TWO securing nails, not one, as this one seems to have. Nor did they have fancy scrollwork on them either. Moreover, the craftsmanship, even of a military contract lock, is totally lacking. My locks are in common rifled muskets, and they are the equal of anything made today as a modern replica by the best makers.

IMO it is a very cheap quality Belgian-made lock, prolly from a single barrel shotgun at any time between 1840 and 1900.

BTW - #11 caps are used for pistols and revolvers, not for percussion muskets or rifles of this era. The proper cap for this lock is called a 'top hat' cap, for obvious reasons, and is an easy double the size of a #11 cap.

tac
As Alden said, we need better photos of the bayonet and measurements in order to ID it. It was picked up somewhere after lying out in the weather for quite some time. The lock is 100% civilian use, much more than likely post Civil War. The Remington caps are also post Civil War. Sorry, no sign of any association with the "29th Tennessee" anywhere unless they were purchased by the old gentleman after the War.
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