American Military Shoulder Arms, Volume I: Colonial and Revolutionary War Arms

"US" IDENTIFICATION OF CONTINENTAL MUSKETS

"US" IDENTIFICATION OF CONTINENTAL MUSKETS In order to reduce the theft of continental muskets, on February 14, 1777, the Board of War recommended to Congress that all continental arms be stamped with "United States," On February24 the Continental Congress resolved: "The arms and accouterments, belonging to the United States, shall be stamped with the words 'United States', all arms already made to be stamped on such parts as will receive the impressions, and those hereinafter to be manufactured, to be stamped with the said words on every part comprising the stand," This resolution was implemented by General Washington, who, on March 31, directed Colonel Benjamin Flower ofthe Commissary General's Department to have all arms so stamped. On April 18 Washington also issued a general order from his headquarters at Morristown, New Jersey, directing that all arms in the hands of troops and in stores were to be marked immediately. It isnot known how rapidly the units in the field responded to this order, nor how many muskets were ultimately marked by the continental repair facilities. However, James Pearson, one of the commissaries of military stores with the army, listed a "U States" brand in his inventory of March 21, 1778. The Continental Armory at Philadelphia was fabricating both copper "US" brands and "US" stamps shortly after mid-1780. A musket's metal components — usually the lock and barrel — were stamped, but the stock was branded. Something is known of the stamping of the new and repaired muskets by continental contract armorers in Philadelphia. At least some were stamped as early as 1780, but the records are incomplete. A summary of the known information is given below: Plate 043.-A This French Model 1774 infantry musket is branded "UNITED STATES." This marking is believed to have been used as early as 1777. Plate 043.-BThe "U STATES"or "U.STATES" stock brands are known to have been in use in 1778. (Milwaukee Public Museum Collection.) 043. 16O AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDERS ARMS, VOL. 1 Plate 043.-C The "US" stock brand was in use by 1780. Note that the stock's left breech flat is also stamped with a faint "IP," the initials ofJoseph Perkins,indicating repair at the Continental Armory in Philadelphia. (Helen and Edward Flanagan Collection.) Summary of Muskets Known Stamped by Continental Contract Armorers Year 1782 1783 1784 1785 Total Muskets 1,215 — 1,144 734 New French Muskets 1,578 313 15,000 13,108 Total 2,793 313 16,144 13,842 33,092 Plate 043.-D The "US" metal stamp came into use by the end of 1780 in Philadelphia. This large "US" stampwasapplied to a musket withboth French Model 1763 and Model 1766 metal components , which is believed to have been rebuilt in Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War. 'US" IDENTIFICATION OF CONTINENTAL MUSKETS 161 Plate 043.-EThis "US" stampwas applied to a French Model 1773 lock made at Saint Etienne. This lock was still in storage at Philadelphia in the 1790s, when it, along with other French components , wasissued to JamesNicholson to be assembled into a musket pursuant to his U.S. contract of 1794. The term "muskets" refers to those muskets that had been repaired by the continental contract armorers in 1782 only. Thereafter, this term refers to any musket that had seen service, regardless of its serviceability. On December 29, 1783, Henry Perkins and John Nicholson contracted with Samuel Hodgdon, commissary general of military stores, to stamp muskets. Pursuant to this contract, they stamped 14,000 muskets in 1784. An additional 587 muskets, which had been issued with small quantities ofspare parts, indicating that some repairs had been made, were also stamped by Nicholson. Another 557 muskets, which had also been issued with a small quantity of spare parts, Plate 043.-F The slightly smaller "US" metal stamp is believed to have been used in the period immediately following the Revolutionary War. (SpringfieldArmory NHP Museum Collection.) AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDERS ARMS, VOL. l indicating that some repairs had been made, were stamped by Nicholson and Samuel Coutty. Of the new muskets stamped in 1785, John Nicholson iscredited with 5,100 and John Thompson with 8,000, The additional following small quantities of muskets, described as "old" or "damaged," were issued with some spare parts, indicating that repairs were made on them, and are credited to the following continental contract armorers: Nicholson: 75; Thompson: 554; and Thomas Elton: 113. In addition to...