WAR OF 1812 MUSKET WITH BAYONET

THIS IS A HANDSOME ORIGINAL ANTIQUE MUSKET WITH BAYONET FROM THE WAR OF 1812 ACCORDING TO MY VISIT WITH SKINNER ANTIQUES IN BOLTON, MASSACHUSETTS. THEY VALUED THIS RELIC AT $3,000; SO MY OPEN BID IS A GREAT VALUE. THE BAYONETS ALONE CAN VALUE AS HIGH AS $600. THIS GUN HAD BEEN IN THE SAME FAMILY SINCE THE WAR OF 1812. THIS IS THE STORY: THIS WAS FOUND IN THE HAYSTACK OF THE FAMILY FARM BARN SOON AFTER THE WAR WAS OVER. THE RIFLE ITSELF IS SAID TO BE A FUSIL (FLINT STROKE) THAT MANY OF THE OFFICER’S CARRIED. IT WAS SUSPECT THAT A YOUNG EDUCATED TEENAGER, THAT LIVED IN THE AREA, LEFT FOR THE WAR AND WAS PLACED IN THE POSITION OF ‘OFFICER’. OVERWHELMED WITH THIS NEW RESPONSIBILITY, HE FLED THE UPCOMING BATTLE SCENE IN NEW ENGLAND AND CAME BACK TO HIS FAMILIAR HOME TOWN. HE WENT UP AND HIDE IN THE NEIGHBOR’S BARN WITH THIS WEAPON FOR QUITE SOMETIME BEFORE BEING FOUND. THE NEIGHBOR HID HIM IN AND HIS WEAPON UNTIL THE WAR WAS OVER. HE LEFT THE WEAPON BEHIND WITH THE NEIGHBOR AND RETURNED HOME. THE WEAPON WAS PLACED ABOVE THE DOORWAY ENTRANCE UNTIL THE HOME WAS LATER TORN DOWN. THE WOMAN WHO TOOK HIM IN WAS THE GREAT-GRANDMOTHER OF THE NEIGHBOR (THAT I HAD BEFRIENDED AND LATER INHERITED THE MUSKET FROM). THEY STORY CONTINUED THAT HER GREAT-GRANDMOTHER WAS LATER HUNG IN THE TOWN SQUARE FOR BEING ACCUSED OF HAVING AN EXTRA MARITAL AFFAIR. ONE WONDER’S IF IT WAS THIS YOUNG MAN SHE HAD THE AFFAIR WITH? NOTHING WAS EVER PROVED. THIS WAS IN MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS. THE MUSKET STAYED IN MY NEIGHBOR’S FAMILY FROM 1812 UNTIL IT WAS GIVEN TO ME IN 2008 WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY. I WAS ONE OF HER CLOSEST FRIENDS AND IT WAS GIVEN TO ME. I HUNG THIS MUSKET OVER MY STONE FIREPLACE WHEN I LIVED IN BOSTON, MASS. UNFORTUNATELY, IT FELL OFF OF THE WALL AND THE FLINT LOCK WAS DAMAGED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A GUNSMITH THAT IT IS AN EASY REPAIR. SO IT’S NOT IN PERFECT SHAPE AS WHEN I RECEIVED IT. I HAVE ALLOWED FOR THIS IN MY ASKING PRICE. THERE IS AN INSCRIPTION ON TOP OF THE MUSKET ON THE METAL BUT I CANNOT MAKE IT OUT. IT SAYS “CASSINGARD”?? SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES. I FIGURE THOSE WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THIS ANTIQUE WOULD BE A REENACTOR AND WOULD POSSIBLY KNOW WHAT IT IS. I WOULD NOT BE SELLING THIS FINE ANTIQUE IF I WAS NOT IN THE FINANCIAL SITUATION I AM IN CURRENTLY. IT’S ONE OF MY MOST PRIZED POSSESSIONS. I HOPE SOMEONE WILL CHERISH THIS AND THE STORY AS IT IS PASSED ON.