Neupreußisches Infanteriegewehr M.1809 u/M

[Fritz]

A fine example of a Prussian Infantry longarm with bayonet. The weapon measures 145 cm, the bayonet 57,2 cm.The socket bayonet has no ring, it is held by a spade-shaped spring underneath the barrel of the weapon. The weapon is smooth bored, rifled barrels were more of an exception in those days. The fittings are all of brass and each marked with a matching number. The lock plate is signed Potsdam G.S.

the barrel has a date of 1834, and a further date of 1843 and mark "Neisse", when the weapon was converted from flintlock to percussion.

This became the standard weapon of the Prussian infantry, apart from the French M.1777, which was available in large numbers. In fact, the M.1809 was almost an exact copy ot the French weapon. As a rule, a scabbard was never worn, the bayonet was constantly mounted on the barrel of the weapon and only removed for cleaning. The buttplate bears the stamped numbering to Landwehr-Regiment 6, 1.Compagnie, weapon no.51. Landwehr-Regiment 6 stood in Neisse. The u/M after the type designation stands for umgeändertes Modell, meaning converted from flintlock to percussion, this designation was also used to describe edged weapons.

This example was in my collection for many years till about 2012.

Archive photo 1998

 

Archive photos 2012

 

[Fritz]

Gew. 1809/uM, Neiße, ca. 1825

Musket here is probably the 1723 model

[Fritz]

It is quite well known that older European weapons were exported for the American Civil war.
Here is a period photo of two soldiers with the Prussian 1809 musket,unfortunately cannot see
whether this is original flintlock or percussion, but can assume it is percussion, as in the late
1830s remaining guns were converted to percussion, two examples I had were 1840 and 1843.