A UNIQUE PROTOTYPE US MILITARY MUSKET C.1860'S BY FAMED MAKERS HASSAM BROTHERS OF BOSTON

Of all steel construction with 29 5/8" .66 cal barrel with under rib pierced for sling swivels and supporting three ramrod tubes with original steel ramrod. The right side with very large spring lock bayonet mount now fitted with a 1855 pattern bayonet. Elongated side hammer percussion box lock made without a trigger guard. The top behind the breech marked HASSAM BOSTON. Extraordinary two piece steel stock comprising a rectangular section flaring out to a scrolled terminal Y with the butt cap screwed to it.

Mechanically complete and excellent. All metal in smooth gray to frosty light pitted condition and untouched with remnants of preservative under the hammer. Best known for the production of Bowie knives in the 1850s, Hassam Brothers were official federal contractors during the Civil War. This prototype, evidently was produced in the expectation of securing a government contract. It appears to be an effort to improve on the Hall breech loading percussion carbine which also employs a fully enclosed lock.