The US Model 1803 Rifle, as produced at the US Armory at Harper’s Ferry, VA (now West Virginia), was the only flintlock rifle ever produced by a US National Armory. The rifle was adopted due to pressure from Secretary of War Henry Dearborn. In May of 1803 he wrote to Harper’s Ferry superintendent Joseph Perkin, stating that there exists “a deficiency of rifles in the public arsenals”. He noted that the rifles currently in US arsenals were “over long”, needed to be of heavier caliber, and needed to be equipped with metal ramrods. He continued in his letter, saying that he preferred “the short rifle, with large calibers than the long ones….(and) stiff steel ramrods instead of wooden ones.”

The rifles Dearborn was referring to in US stores were the classic “Kentucky” and “Pennsylvania” style flintlock rifles of the pre-1800 era. These guns were of relatively small caliber, typically between .36 to .40 caliber, had long barrels that were often over 40” in length, and were typically full stocked all the way to the muzzle. The gun that Dearborn proposed would carry a ball of “1/30 of a pound weight” or 30-bore in the British system of determining caliber. Such a round ball would be about .525” in diameter and would ball weigh a hair more than ½ oz. When the greased patch was added, this ball fit a nominally .54 caliber bore well.

The US Model 1803 Rifle was initially produced with a 33” two-stage octagon to round barrel, with a nominally .54 caliber bore that was rifled with 7 lands and grooves. The gun was half stocked in walnut with a raised cheek rest, and the barrel was secured to the stock by a single barrel wedge and the tang screw. The barrel had a heavy iron rib underneath it, upon which were mounted two iron ramrod pines, which held the iron, trumpet headed ramrod that Dearborn had specified. The guns were initially finished with browned barrels and color casehardened locks, but according to research by George Moller some of the later production Type II guns were produced without browning, as National Armory Bright arms. Mounting and furniture were of brass, and these included the buttplate, triggerguard with rudimentary pistol grip, flat S-shaped side plate, entry pipe, forend tip reinforcing band and a two-piece patchbox. Sights were a simple fixed dovetailed blade rear sight and a dovetailed blade front sight. Between 1804 and 1807 some 4,000 of these flintlock rifles were produced at the Harper’s Ferry arsenal. These initial production guns were serial numbered on the left breech flat, above the depressed US and {Eagle Head}/P inspection and proof marks. This limited number of rifles was considered sufficient for the relatively small US standing army of the time, especially when the fact that the rifle was considered a “special purpose” arm during that time is considered. The smoothbore musket and bayonet were the primary arms for the infantry use during that period. The first round of production of the Model 1803 rifle ceased 1807. All of these early rifles are considered “Type I rifles” by collectors. 

Production of the US Model 1803 was not ordered to resume until 1813, the result of the need for additional arms due to the War of 1812. Production resumed in 1814 and continued through 1820. A number of minor changes were made to the rifle at that time. These later production rifles are known as “Type II” rifles by collectors. The majority of them featured a 36” octagon to round barrel, instead of the original 33” barrel. The later production rifles were not serial numbered. The other changes were mostly small cosmetic ones related to the increase in barrel length, including a change in proportions between the octagon and round barrel portions, a change in the length of the stock to accommodate the longer barrel and a slightly recontoured buttstock with a slightly longer patchbox. During the first two years of this second period of production left over 33” barrels from the original period of production were used up and used somewhat indiscriminately, along with left over (and likely some new made) shorter stocks. It is believed that these left over barrels were exhausted by the middle of 1816.  Between 1814 and 1820, over 15,718 of the Type II rifles were produced, making a total of 19,718 including both types. 

The US Model 1803 saw service during the War of 1812 and subsequently during the First Seminole War (1817-1818), the Second Seminole War (1835-1842) and even serving during the Mexican War. After the US Model 1803 was superseded by the contractor produced US Model 1817 “Common Rifle” and the breechloading Hall Model 1819 rifle made at Harpers Ferry, many of the older Model 1803 rifles were shipped to Western outposts in territories that would one day become the states of Arkansas, Kansas, Texas, Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico and the Dakota’s. Some US Model 1803 Rifles also ended up in state arsenals, issued under the Militia Act of 1808. It was in those arsenals that many were eventually altered to percussion, in order to extend their useful service life.

The US Model 1803 Type II Harpers Ferry Rifle offered here is an attractive, transitional example that remains in its original flintlock condition and is in about FINE condition. The rifle is an early Type II, produced in 1816 at the Harper’s Ferry arsenal, and is one of the scarce and desirable Transitional Type II rifles manufactured with the older, surplus 33” barrel, instead of the newly adopted 36” barrel. Harpers Ferry produced a total of 2,052 Model 1803 Rifles that year. The 5 ¼” flat beveled lock plate is marked in three vertical lines behind the hammer: 

HARPERS

FERRY

1816

The markings remain fully legible, but the strikes clearly show the die was starting to wear substantially and some of the letters are incomplete or poorly struck. Forward of the hammer, the lock is marked with a {Spread-Winged Eagle}, with a US in the shield on its breast, with the usual arrows clutched in one of its talons and olive branches in the other. The eagle marking remains crisp and clear. The iron lock is in its original flintlock configuration with the original integral rounded and fenced iron pan intact and the original flat faceted reinforced cock in place as well. The barrel remains in original flint as well, confirmed by internal inspection with an endoscope, which revealed no welding, modifications or repairs.  The touchhole is slightly enlarged and shows some moderate erosion but is well centered in the pan and appears to be unmolested. The left barrel flat is marked at the breech with a raised US in a depressed oval inspector cartouche and with a raised {Eagle Head}/P proof in a depressed oval. The lock of the rifle functions correctly and is mechanically fine, functioning crisply on all positions. The counterpane of the stock is crisply struck with the script V/JS inspection mark of Harpers Ferry’s longest serving superintendent James Stubblefield and the tail of the counterpane has a slightly worn block V/AT inspection, the mark of a yet to be identified Harpers Ferry inspector, whose mark appears on arms produced there circa 1815-1820.

As noted, the rifle rates about FINE in overall condition, especially for a Model 1803 Rifle. The gun retains mostly crisp and sharp markings in the metal, as well as in the wood. The metal of the gun has a mottled and moderately oxidized salt and pepper patina over a dull pewter gray base patina color. The metal is almost entirely smooth, despite the oxidation and freckled discoloration, with only some lightly scattered areas of minor surface roughness and some small areas of minor pitting. The breech area of the rifle and the interior of the iron pan show do show light to moderate amounts of scattered pitting. The rifle has a VERY GOOD+ bore with strong rifling, showing moderate amounts of oxidation and scattered pitting. The seven-groove rifling remains deep and strong. Finding a well rifled 1803 Rifle with a nice bore can be rather difficult as so many surviving 1803 Rifles are found with their barrels bored smooth. Even the late Robert Reilly noted in his book United States Martial Flintlocks that “A substantial number of existing Model 1803 rifles are known with smoothbore barrels. Whether these were reamed out subsequent to manufacture or were actually produced as such is not known.” Clearly the rifles were not made as smoothbore, it is again worth noting that so many surviving examples are smoothbore and this gun has a wonderfully deeply rifled one. The rifle retains its original trumpet shaped iron ramrod in the pipes under the barrel. The rod is full length and retains the threads on the end for implements. The rifle also retains its original dovetailed rear sight and dovetail mounted brass front sight blade. The brass furniture of the rifle has a lovely, rich golden patina that is very attractive and shows some greenish age tones. The brass patchbox is still functional and the iron release button on the top of the buttplate functions as it should. The stock of the rifle rates about FINE as well. The stock is full length and solid and the raised check piece on the reverse of the buttstock still retains good lines. As noted, the left flat of the stock retains clear and crisp inspection marks. The stock retains crisp edges and lines and shows no indications of having been sanded. The stock does show a small area of wood filler on the top of the comb, forward of the buttplate tang, as well as a light coating of old varnish. The varnish has more than likely helped to keep the stock in such nice shape and provided as least some protection to the cartouches. The coating could be carefully removed if so desired, but that will be a decision for a future owner. As would be expected for a rifle that is over 200 years old, the stock shows a number of scattered bumps, dings, scratches, rubs and even some small gouges. There is a small grain crack in the counterpane, running from the rear lock mounting screw to the barrel channel, the result of the screw being over tightened. There are some of the typical impact marks and minor wood loss around the iron barrel wedge on both sides of the stock. 

Overall, this is a very attractive example of the first US arsenal produced rifle, the US Model 1803 Harpers Ferry Rifle. These rifles are incredibly difficult to obtain in their original flintlock configuration, particularly with such nice cartouches and such a nice bore. Exceptional condition Type I guns regularly sell in the five-figure price range, and at least some dealers would like price this exceptionally crisp example similarly. I always try to price my inventory as fairly and honestly as possible and to provide a very fair value for collectors. For most collectors, the best they can hope to find is a mostly original, re-converted rifle of this pattern, but this one remains in very nice original flint condition. This rifle has great eye appeal and displays wonderfully. The 33” barrel Type II Rifle are rather hard to find, so this one is real gem in that respect as well. This rifle would be a very nice addition to any US Martial Arms collection, particularly one that focuses on US military rifles.

Provenance: John Vagnetti Collection, ex-Bill Gerber Collection, ex-Robert Howard Collection

ON HOLD