The lot features an incredibly rare and interesting piece of American Indian history. The lot features an original Nathan Starr Model 1816 flintlock musket marked, “US STARR” on the side of the receiver lock plate, “MIDDtn CONN 1837” on the back of the receiver lock plate behind the hammer, “1837”on the backstrap of the barrel to frame, “US NWP P (the “P” is surrounded by a sun or seal like hallmark) on the top of the barrel. The piece was later converted from flintlock to percussion hammer. The Model 1816 flintlock musket was the standard of American Infantrymen from 1816 to 1840, manufactured by Nathan Starr, and was later converted to percussion in 1861 by the Newark firm Hewes 7 Philips under a federal or state Civil War military contract. This piece was likely used to defend early Forts from the American Indian, then later converted to percussion for use during the American Civil War, then issued for use again to defend Forts from the American Indian where the piece was presumably lost in battle from the US Indian Wars Infantryman and commandeered by the American Indian. The piece was then altered for use on horseback or close combat into a hand pistol, with the stock being shortened at the frame trigger guard end and the barrel being cut down to 11 ½ inches in length. The piece was recovered by a long time Montanan family during the late 19th to early 20th Century where it was on display in their Livingston, Montana Paradise Valley estate for many decades. If this piece could tell its stories it was possibly tell of dire battles during the early days of the American West, the California Gold rush, Indian Fort Battles, the Civil War, Battle of the Little Bighorn and so many other battles that a piece such as this could have been used and later used against the same type of soldier that carried it. Overall the piece shows a worn well used finish with dark slightly pitted but still solid metal finish, missing trigger and seized hammer, very worn wood, slight separation from barrel to wood, but still displays well and is truly a museum piece. Overall measures 20 1/8”L. The musket was originally chambered in .69 caliber.