The percussion cap system was vastly superior to the flintlock, being much more reliable and much more resistant to weather.

The Model 1842 had an overall length of 58 inches (150 cm) and a weight of ten pounds (4,5 kg).

Approximately 275,000 Model 1842 muskets were produced, manufactured at the Springfield and Harper's Ferry armories between 1844 and 1855.

Waters went out of business due to a lack of contracts in New England, and Flagg entered into a partnership with William Glaze of South Carolina.

As the designers anticipated, many of the Model 1842 muskets had their barrels rifled later so that they could fire the newly developed Minié ball.

The smoothbore version was produced without sights (except for a cast one on the barrel band).