Potsdam Musket
Royal Prussian Potsdam Arsenal · Rifle · Discontinued · 1809
Also known as: Potzdam Musket, Prussian Model 1809 Musket, Modell 1809, Preußisches Infanteriegewehr M1809
Overview
The Potsdam Musket (Prussian Modell 1809) is a .75 caliber smoothbore flintlock infantry musket adopted by the Kingdom of Prussia in 1809. Heavily based on the French Charleville Model 1777, it substituted steel barrel bands for brass to cut costs and featured a flintlock with a flash-guarded frizzen and a decorative heart-shaped cock. It served as the standard Prussian infantry arm through the later Napoleonic Wars, including Waterloo, and tens of thousands of surplus examples were later imported by both sides during the American Civil War.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4082 g (144.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1448 mm (57.01") |
| Barrel Length | 1054 mm (41.50") |
| Action Type | Muzzleloader |
| Firing Mechanism | Flintlock |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Magazine Type | None |
| Muzzle Velocity | 305 m/s (1001 fps) |
| Effective Range | 90 m (98 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 270 m (295 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 3 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Smoothbore |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Browned |
Calibers
- .75 Caliber Musket Ball · primary — also known as 0.75 in, 11-bore ball, .71 lead ball
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Muzzle Loaded
- Safety mechanisms: Frizzen Pan Cover
- Features: Smoothbore Barrel, Steel Barrel Bands, Socket Bayonet Lug, Flash Guard Frizzen, Spring Bayonet Catch
Service history
Operators
- Kingdom of Prussia · adopted 1809 · as Modell 1809
- Union Army · adopted 1861
- Confederate States Army · adopted 1861
Conflicts
- Napoleonic Wars (1809-1815)
- Battle of Waterloo (1815)
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
Production
Production years: 1809-1840
Around 165,000 Potsdam-pattern muskets (flintlock and percussion) were imported into the United States during the American Civil War.
Origin
Country of origin: Germany
Discontinued: 1840
Notes
Many Modell 1809 muskets were later converted from flintlock to percussion ignition. Civil War soldiers nicknamed it the 'pumpkin slinger' for its large .75 caliber ball. Produced at multiple Prussian arsenals including Potsdam, Saarn, Neisse, and Danzig.
Background
Adopted in the aftermath of Prussia's defeat by Napoleon, the Modell 1809 'Potsdam' armed the reformed Prussian army that helped break the French at Waterloo. Decades later, surplus stocks crossed the Atlantic to arm raw regiments on both sides of the American Civil War, where its hefty ball earned it the nickname 'pumpkin slinger.'