Fiona,
I agree with what David said. And, I would like to add a few things. I want to confirm his suggestion that you check if the rifle is loaded. Normally, the term musket indicates it is muzzle-loading. If so, David's suggestions apply. If the ram-rod still exists, you may be able to use this to determine if it is loaded, instead of going out to buy a dowel.
In general, rifles need virtually no care for good preservation. Their major threats are high RH, handling, and application of unnecessary concoctions meant to foster preservation, but in reality meant to line the pockets of their manufacturers. So, use gloves when handling as David suggests, keep the RH below 60% year round (preferably lower, but probably unrealistic in a collection of mixed objects), and do not apply anything to the rifle. Hopefully, no one has added anything to it in the past, or that could cause problems down the road, if it has not already. Ethafoam, or more realistically generic polyethylene foam, should not cause preservation problems. Good luck!
Marc
American Conservation Consortium, Ltd.
4 Rockville Road
Broad Brook, CT 06016
www.conservator.com
860-386-6058
*Collections Preservation Consultation
*Conservation Assessments & Surveys
*Environmental Monitoring & Low-Tech Control
*Moisture Management Solutions
*Collections in Historic Structures
*Collections Care Grant Preparation
*Conservation Treatment of:
Furniture
Painted Wood
Horse-Drawn Vehicles
Architectural Interiors
Decorative Objects & Folk Art
Marc A. Williams, President
MS in Art Conservation, Winterthur Museum Program
Former Chief Wooden Objects Conservator, Smithsonian Institution
Fellow, American Institute for Conservation (AIC)
----- Original Message -----
From: David Harvey
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Friday, March 01, 2013 12:53 PM
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Civil War muzzle loader
Fiona -
First and foremost assume it is loaded until you check it - I have seen loaded historic guns on museum shelves with
the staff not knowing.
Get a wooden dowel from a hardware store that will fit in
the barrel (it has to be longer than the barrel - 5 - 6 ft. - slide it down the barrel until it stops, and make a pencil mark on
the wood level with the end of the barrel (muzzle). Slide the dowel out and hold it along the top of the barrel, lining up the pencil mark. If the other end of the dowel lines up with the back end of the barrel, then it's not loaded; if it stops short -
then something is inside the barrel. Pencils work well in checking pistols.
You can store it on a shelf lying down on ethafoam (lock-side up) or hang it on hooks as long as they are padded with non-acidic padding or tubing.
Always handle with gloves and do your best to keep it dust-free. Never polish the metal - patina is considered part of the history and value of an historic firearm.
Cheers!
Dave
David Harvey
Senior Conservator & Museum Consultant
Los Angeles CA
www.cityofangelsconservation.weebly.com
On Fri, Mar 1, 2013 at 7:37 AM, Dejardin, Fiona <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
In doing inventory at my local historical society I recently came across a 1863 U.S. Springfield Rifle Musket. It is currently wrapped in ethafoam and looks to me (no experience with guns!) to be in excellent condition, but I am wondering if anyone can give me advice on proper storage and maintenance?
Fiona
Fiona M. Dejardin
Dept of Art and Art History
Hartwick College, NY 13820
www.dejardinbeads.com
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