This is a very great looking original flintlock musket! It is an original .69 caliber military musket from the Firm of D. Nippes of Mill Creek, PA. According to Flayderman's guide Nippes made only 1,600 of these muskets, and only made them from 1837 until 1840. The lockplate has the Makers Mark of Nippes of Philadelphia still visible and the very clear 1839 production date. The action is in the original flintlock configuration and the mechanics work well on both positions. The barrel is full-length with the original proof marks still Crisply visible at the base of the barrel. On the tang of the barrel, you can see the matching and correct 1839 production dates. One neat thing about this production date, is that it could have been used for military service in either the Mexican or Civil War. It has both of the sling swivels still intact. It has a full-length original ramrod in the channel underneath the barrel. The stock has a very pleasing look all over and you can see the inspector cartouche on the flat of the stock opposite of the lockplate. The walnut wood of the stock has a pretty darker tone with nice corners. There is a small drying crack near the top of the buttplate on each side. These .69 caliber smoothbore muskets were heavily used during the Civil War by the infantrymen of both sides because it is what they had in the arsenal when the war broke out. This is a good-looking original military flintlock musket that could have been used by either side during the Civil War.