This musket is completely original except for the ramrod and has no visible external stamps or markings. These early Springfield pattern muskets are very difficult to identify and many are misrepresented. All the measurements on this arm fall into the Pre 1798 specs. There is a #7 stamped to the underside of the BBL at the breech with a stamped letter of either an "N" or a "H" within an 1/8" square cartouche, also present in this area is a hand scribed "X". The musket measures 60-1/4" overall and has a .71 cal 44-7/8" BBL with a 2-3/8" long breech tang that has a lower placed tang screw to secure the trigger plate, also a top bayonet lug. Lock plate measures 6-3/8" x 1-1/4" and is stamped on the rear backside under the pan mount "CS". An early French style trigger guard measures 12-3/8" long with a high supported trigger web as observed on other pre 1798 contracts. The workmanship is not what would be expected as to the post 1798 contracts since the government was clamping down on poor quality arms. So many of the lesser quality arms were sold off privately by the government. There is a 2" x 2-1/2" wood knot period patch on the R/S of stock at the butt plate. This is an extremely difficult musket to find in this condition. Ex D. Coll collection Sutton, MA.