Lot 1293: Harpers Ferry Model 1803 U.S. Flintlock Rifle

These late Model 1803 flintlock rifles are often erroneously called Model 1814. These U.S. Model 1803 Rifles were manufactured from 1803-1807 and later 1814-1820. They were made to fill the needs of the War of 1812 and approximately 1,600 were made in 1814 and early 1815 before the barrels were lengthened to 36" for the rest of production. These rifles were almost identical to the earlier production with only the eagle marking on the lock being different. Marked "HARPERS / FERRY / 1814" vertically at the rear of the lock plate with an eagle with a "US" marked shield on its breast ahead of the hammer. The left rear barrel flat is marked with a recessed "US " and "eagle head / P" proof. Brass trigger guard, band around the forend, patchbox and buttplate. The lock has an integral forged iron flash pan with fence at the rear. Fixed iron rear and brass blade front sights on the barrel and distinctive rib under the barrel with two iron ferrules. Steel ram rod with a brass tip. Walnut half stock secured by a single sliding key with a small cheek\piece and brass patch box on the right side of the stock. The left flat is marked with an illegible marking and the right side of the buttstock is period carved with a small "15". There is a push button on the buttplate tang that releases the patch box latch. The Model 1803 was one of the key martial longarms and was the only muzzle loading flintlock rifle produced by either of the U.S. national armories. It was the first of the U.S. regulation rifles and it saw extensive use in the War of 1812.