FR J Bitterlich? 1861?

To the topic at hand. This is a very fine firearm. it has been fired, there is corrosive patters from the percussion cap around the nipple. It does have evidence as to being exposed to the elements. It appears to be genuine, but you wont satisfy the critics until you track down the man this belonged to dig him up, make him put his left hand on a bible and attest that this was his. Have it authenticated and hang it on a wall,it even looks operational to me. I would have to look at its guts and down the barrel first. The weapon could have seen battle, seeing that its not to fancy engraved, and the man that it possibly belonged to was a captain and retired as a major. Now to the topic off hand, no confederate soldier went without adequate equipment for to long. the soldiers early in the war had to get what they could and make it last. Mid to late war the uniform was standardized, more shoes and supplies were available whether it was from import, production at home or captured enemy supply trains and stores.
 
Arquebus, there is a rear sight, but it's very small. I'll post up a pic tonight if you'd like. The pic will also show one of the defects, one of the screws on the top is missing. One of the screws on the bottoms looks like it's been replaced as well. As for caliber, I don't know, I'll have to get the calipers out.

Talking to some family members, I did find out that my great grandfather was something of a gun guy and he bought this pistol. So unfortunately Thompson wasn't an ancestor of mine, but it's been in the family probably around 70-80 years.
 
Whether the gun belonged to an ancestor or not, having the history of the gun and the man who owned it at the time it was made adds not only to your knowledge but also to the value of the gun should you ever want to sell it. A nicely compiled history of S. M. Thompson and his role in the Civil War takes the gun from something of mild interest to a historically important artefact and could add hundreds to its value.

As to the condition, I may be missing something but I don't see a lot of evidence of outdoor use or even very heavy use. The patina is about what we usually expect on a gun that has been handled and used some, but not abused. In most such cases, the handling came long after the first owner passed on as generations of children played cowboys and injuns with the gun.

It is always a good idea to check any old muzzleloader to be sure it is not loaded or that the barrel is not full of debris, like marbles.

Jim
 
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