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ОглавлениеCHAPTER 2 RIFLED MUSKETS
It is easy to confuse the terms “rifled musket,” “rifle-musket,” “rifle,” and “musket.” So easy, in fact, that the terms were often used interchangeably during the Civil War—and still are today among collectors!
In an effort to equip armies with modern arms, the practice of rifling smoothbore muskets emerged in the 1840s. A smoothbore musket that was subsequently rifled is referred to as a “rifled musket.”
U.S. armories undertook rifling smooth-bore muskets during the 1855s, but these efforts were never really maximized until the prospect of civil war loomed. In February 1861, Colonel of Ordnance H.K. Craig reported that there were 24,300 .69 Model 1822 muskets altered to percussion at the Kennebec Arsenal and more than 100,000 .69 Model 1842 muskets (“much superior to the altered arms”) at other arsenals. Furthermore, he explained to his superior, Secretary of War J. Holt, that preparations to rifle the latter had been begun but were suspended by the Secretary’s predecessor in the late 1850s. He promised Lincoln’s government that the work would immediately recommence.
Meanwhile, northern and southern buyers scoured European arsenals and armories hoping to find quality weapons to purchase and import. The European governments had undertaken the similar strategy of rifling old smoothbore muskets. However, as the European gun manufacturer’s delivered stocks of newly made rifle-muskets and rifles, the old rifled muskets were retired to the gun racks. In most cases, these are the weapons the American buyers were able to purchase.
Rifled muskets remained in the hands of troops right up until the end of the Civil War. Today, they represent an interesting collision of old world linear tactics when the smooth-bored musket was supreme, with the new style of combat of identifying individual targets that is still practiced today.
U.S. MODEL 1842 RIFLED MUSKET, TYPES I AND II, 69 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Original muskets manufactured by Harpers Ferry Armory, Harper’s Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia), 1843–55, and Springfield Armory, Springfield, Massachusetts, 1844–55; altered to rifled muskets at the same armories, 1855–59. Total altered: 55,290.
Overall length: 57-13/16". Weight: 9 lbs. 4 oz.
Muzzleloader, single shot.
Eagle over “US” on lock plate in front of hammer; “HARPERS / FERRY / [year]” or “SPRING / FIELD / [year]” vertically on lock plate to rear of hammer; “V / P / [eagle head]” proof mark on left side of barrel near breech; inspector’s initials forward of proof marks on some examples; year on barrel tang; “US” on tang of butt stock.
Government armories and arsenals carried out a program from 1855 to 1859 to rifle the barrels of U.S. Model 1842 Muskets (.69 caliber). The barrels were rifled with three broad grooves, with lands of the same width. In addition, long-range rear sights were installed on most units. These rifled muskets are designated “Type I.”
Model 1842 Type II rifled muskets do not have rear sights.
A subset of the U.S. Model 1852 Rifled Muskets, Type I, were the 500 units that were browned at Harper’s Ferry Armory in 1856.
Type II rifled muskets were the up to 20,074 weapons that were not fitted with rear sights.
| GOOD–$1,200 | FINE–$3,500 |
Model 1842 Type I rifled musket. Rock Island Auction Company
GREENWOOD ALTERATIONOF U.S. MUSKETTO RIFLED MUSKET, .69 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION (BELGIANOR “CONE” TYPE)
Rock Island Auction Company
Muskets manufactured by various national and private armories; altered to rifled muskets by Miles Greenwood & Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1861. Total altered: 16,918.
Overall length and weight depend on model.
Muzzleloader, single shot.
Markings according to original maker.
In 1861 Miles Greenwood & Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, converted to rifled muskets 16,918 U.S. muskets which previously had been altered with cone-in-barrel (or Belgian style) percussion systems. The rifling was with four narrow grooves, and a rear sight similar to that on the British P1853 rifle-musket was soldered to the barrel.
| GOOD–$900 | FINE–$2,000 |
GREENWOOD ALTERATIONOF U.S. MODEL 1842 MUSKETTO RIFLED MUSKET, .69 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Original muskets manufactured by Harpers Ferry Armory, Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, 1843–55, and Springfield Armory, Springfield, Massachusetts, 1844–55; altered to rifled muskets by Miles Greenwood & Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1861. Total altered: approximately 8,400.
Overall length: 57-13/16". Weight: approximately 9 lbs. 4 oz.
Muzzleloader, single shot.
Eagle over “US” on lock plate in front of hammer; “HARPERS / FERRY / [year]” or “SPRING / FIELD / [year]” vertically on lock plate to rear of hammer; “V / P / [eagle head]” proof mark on left side of barrel near breech; inspector’s initials forward of proof marks on some examples; year on barrel tang; “US” on tang of butt stock.
In 1861 the State of Ohio contracted with Miles Greenwood & Company to alter a quantity of U.S. Model 1842 smoothbore muskets to rifled muskets with long-range rear sights. Greenwood reportedly altered 8,406 of these weapons, rifled with four narrow grooves, and with rear sights similar to the British P1853 rifle-musket soldered to the barrel.
| GOOD–$1,200 | FINE–$3,500 |
GREENWOOD ALTERATIONTO AUSTRIAN MODEL 1842 MUSKETTO RIFLED MUSKET, APPROXIMATELY .70 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Manufactured by Austrian national armory, alteration by Miles Greenwood & Co. and Hall, Carroll, & Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, 1861. Total production: approximately 10,000.
Overall length: 57-3/4".
Muzzleloader, single shot.
Three-digit date (omitting the first digit “1”) to front of hammer on lock plate; Austrian imperial double-headed eagle to rear of hammer on lock plate; most metal parts stamped with identical numbers.
In 1861, Miles Greenwood & Company contracted to alter 10,000 Austrian Model 1842 smoothbore muskets destined for Gen. John Charles Frémont’s Missouri troops. Greenwood subcontracted 5,000 of the units to Hall, Carroll, & Company, also of Cincinnati. Reportedly, the alteration consisted of replacing the Austrian tubelock ignition apparatus with a percussion system, possibly of the cone-in-barrel (or Belgian) type, as well as installing a long-range rear sight soldered to the barrel. This model of musket had a 43" barrel and easily identifiable lock markings.
| GOOD–$400 | FINE–$1,500 |
U.S. MODEL 1851 RIFLED CADET MUSKET, .57 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Manufactured by Springfield Armory, Springfield, Massachusetts, ca. 1851–53, rifled by Springfield Armory, 1857. Total production: ca. 341.
Overall length: 55-1/4".
Muzzleloader, single shot.
“SPRING / FIELD / [year]” on lock plate to rear of hammer; eagle over “US” on lock plate to front of hammer; year on top of breech plug tang; “V,” “P,” and eagle head near breech.
Springfield Armory’s records for 1857 reported that 341 Model 1851 Cadet Muskets, smoothbore, were rifled and equipped with long-range rear sights. These rifled muskets had 40" barrels and iron furniture, finished bright; and three barrel bands (upper band with double strap).
| GOOD–$850 | FINE–$2,000 |
P.S. JUSTICE RIFLED MUSKET, .69 CALIBER, TYPE I, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Made by Philip S. Justice, Philadelphia, 1861. Total production: Unknown.
Overall length: 54-3/4".
Muzzleloader, single shot.
“P.S. JUSTICE / PHILADA” on lock plate to front of hammer and on top of barrel near breech; on some specimens, a number to rear of bayonet stud and eagle on lock plate to front of hammer.
Philip S. Justice supplied 2,174 .69-caliber rifled muskets in three distinctive types to the U.S. Ordnance Department in the fall of 1861. Similar in appearance to the U.S. Model 1816 musket converted to percussion, the Type I rifled musket was assembled from old-stock parts, with a new (and often unseasoned) black walnut stock. The 39" barrel was rifled with three wide lands and shallow grooves. It included a long-range rear sight, Model 1816 lock and trigger, and three Model 1840 or 1842 barrel bands with springs and sling swivel on the bottom of the middle band.
| GOOD–$800 | FINE–$1,700 |
Rock Island Auction Company
P.S. JUSTICE RIFLED MUSKET, .69 CALIBER, TYPE II, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION.
Made by Philip S. Justice, Philadelphia, 1861. Total production: Unknown.
Overall length: 55". Weight: 7 lbs. 6 oz.
Muzzleloader, single shot.
“P.S. JUSTICE / PHILADA” on lock plate to front of hammer and on top of barrel near breech; on some specimens, a number to rear of bayonet stud and eagle on lock plate to front of hammer.
At least one weapons expert has called the Justice Type II rifled musket perhaps the poorest firearm submitted to the U.S. Ordnance Department in the Civil War, and possibly the only martial shoulder arm of the war with the barrel pinned to the stock, in lieu of barrel bands. The 39" browned barrel was fitted with a long-range rear sight or a fixed, V-notch sight. All furniture was brass, and included a patch box in the butt stock, two ramrod thimbles, and a trigger guard bow with a distinctive reverse curve on the bottom. There were no provisions for sling swivels. The black walnut stock was crudely manufactured, often of unseasoned wood.
| GOOD–$800 | FINE–$1,700 |
P.S. JUSTICE RIFLED MUSKET, .69 CALIBER, TYPE III, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION.
Made by Philip S. Justice, Philadelphia, 1861. Total production: Unknown.
Muzzleloader, single shot.
“P.S. JUSTICE / PHILADA” on lock plate to front of hammer and on top of barrel near breech; on some specimens, an eagle on lock plate to front of hammer.
Of the three types of Justice Rifled Musket, .69 caliber, the Type III appears to have survived in the greatest numbers. Unlike the other two types, it was built entirely of new parts, and included a 39" browned barrel, prominent brass front blade sight, and two-leaf rear sight soldered to the barrel. The barrel was secured to the 52" black walnut stock with three 1/2"-wide, split-clamping oval bands; upper sling swivel on the middle band. The bayonet stud was on the bottom of the barrel, 1" from the muzzle. The furniture was brass, including a patch box and distinctive, reverse-curve trigger-guard bow.
| GOOD–$900 | FINE–$1,800 |
Rock Island Auction Company
U.S. MODEL 1842 MUSKET, PALMETTO ARMORY CONTRACT, .69 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Manufactured by Palmetto Armory, Columbia, South Carolina, 1860-1861. Total production: at least 3,700.
Overall length: 57-3/4". Weight: approximately 9 lbs. 3 oz.
Muzzleloader, single shot.
“PALMETTO ARMORY S*C” in a circle around a palmetto tree, on lock plate to front of hammer; “COLUMBIA / S.C. 1852” vertically on lock plate to rear of hammer; “V / P / [palmetto tree]” proof mark on barrel near breech; “SC” on tang of butt plate.
In April 1851 the Palmetto Armory secured a contract with South Carolina to produce 6,000 copies of the U.S. Model 1842 Musket. The armory completed the contract by the end of 1853, on machinery purchased from Benjamin Flagg’s factory in Millbury, Massachusetts, that had previously been used to manufacture the A. H. Waters and B. Flagg versions of the U.S. Model 1842 Musket. The Palmetto Armory version was very similar to the standard U.S. model, with variations in some examples including brass barrel bands instead of iron and a bayonet stud on top of the barrel rather than the bottom. In February 1860, the State of South Carolina contracted the Palmetto Armory to add a fixed rear sight and rifle 3,700 of the Model 1842 muskets then at the Armory. The Armory completed the contract by August 1861. All of the rifled muskets are dated 1852.
| GOOD–$2,500 | FINE–$5,000 |
PRUSSIAN MODEL 1839/55 RIFLED MUSKET, .69TO .72 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Made by government armories and several different private gun manufactories, ca. 1839-ca.1860. Total imported: Unknown, but at least 65,000.
Overall length: 57".
Muzzleloader, single shot.
Lock plates stamped with the Prussian crown over place of manufacture such as “SUHL / S & C”, “Potsdam / GT”, “Zella”, or “Mehlis,” which is over the year of manufacture.
Though originally designed as a smoothbore, manufacturers began to turn out rifled versions of the Model 1839 in 1855, hence the designation “Model 1839/55.” The barrel is fitted with a patent breech that accepts a screwed in cone. The U.S. Ordnance Department purchased 65,000 Prussian arms identified as “smooth bore.” There are no known records of Confederate purchases.
At least two variants of the standard Model 1839/55 are known:
Type I: Nearly identical to the standard Model 1839/55 except that it is fitted with a back-action lock. Type I rifled muskets vary in bore from .69" to .715". The union gun dealer, Herman Boker, imported 4,286 of this variant during the Civil War.
Type II: This variant is early identical to the standard Model 1839/55 but measures only 55-1/2" overall and is chambered for a .615"-caliber ball. The Type II has a bayonet stud beneath the barrel in place of the retaining spring. Type II variants are fitted with a long range sight very similar to the type used on the British Pattern 1853 rifle-musket. U.S. importer John Hoey purchased 1,810 Prussian rifles, “caliber .615” on March 6, 1862.
| ALL TYPES: GOOD–$375 | FINE–$1,100 |
James D. Julia Auctioneers, Fairfield, Maine
HANSEATIC LEAGUE MODEL 1840 RIFLED MUSKET, .70 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Made by Carl Phillip Crause, Hertzberg, Germany, ca. 1839-? Total imported: Unknown.
Overall length: 55-1/2".
Muzzleloader, single shot.
Lock plate inscribed “Crause of Hertzberg”. Monogrammed “T”, “S”, or “R” have also been observed.
Though originally designed as a smoothbore, most were rifled during the 1850s. The barrel was browned while other iron parts were left bright. It is unknown how many were imported during the war, but it has been reported that 2,680 were transferred to the State of Ohio by the Federal government.
| GOOD–$375 | FINE–$1,100 |
SAXON MODEL 1844 RIFLED MUSKET, .71 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Made by several manufacturers, Liege, Belgium, ca. 1844-? Total imported: Unknown.
Overall length: 57".
Muzzleloader, single shot.
Lock plate stamped to reflect individual manufacturing companies, including “[crown] / BF” for Beuret Freres, “[crown] / AF” for August Francotte and “P.J. MALHERBE- A LIEGE”. A Liege proof mark is usually stamped on the right side of the breech. Assembly numbers mark the barrel, breech, bands and other major components.
Though originally designed as a smoothbore, most were rifled during the 1850s. Two types of sights have been observed on Model 1844 rifled muskets: the first is a notched, block-mounted sight on the breech plug tang. The second style has a folding leaf pierced with three sighting holes mounted on the barrel. Metal furniture can be either brass iron. The barrel and any iron furniture was left bright. Because gun buyers (or sellers) did not make a great effort to differentiate between the muskets of various German states, it is unknown how many Saxon Model 1844 rifled muskets were imported during the war. There are no known records of Confederate purchases.
| GOOD–$375 | FINE–$900 |
BAVARIAN MODEL 1842 RIFLED MUSKET, .70 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Made by national armory, Amberg, Germany, ca. 1842-ca. 1858. Total imported: Unknown.
Overall length: 56-1/4".
Muzzleloader, single shot.
Lock plate stamped “AMBERG” with the year of manufacture over a crown. manufacture over a crown.
Originally produced as smooth bore muskets, the Model 1842s were rifled with five grooves in the early 1850s. They were the first percussion weapons adopted by the Bavarian army. The three-band weapon has a simple blade front sight just to the rear of the front barrel band. The rear sight is a simple notched block of iron mounted to the breech tang. Examples have been observed with a hinged rear sight. Though Marcellus Hartley commented on the availability of Bavarian muskets in his communications with the Secretary of War, no evidence of any purchase has been discovered. No records of Confederate purchases are known.
| GOOD–$375 | FINE–$900 |
FRENCH MODEL 1816 RIFLED MUSKET, .71 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Made by a variety of French and Belgium gun manufactories, ca. 1816-ca. 1822. Total imported: at least 2,000.
Overall length: 58-1/8".
Muzzleloader, single shot.
A wide variety of lock plate markings have been observed. The barrel tang is engraved with the model designation, “M 1816.”
After the French government retired its flintlock, smooth-bore Model 1816 muskets, the German State of Wurttemberg acquired them. The Germans converted the muskets to percussion by replacing the flintlock hammer, pan, and frizzen, with a bolster brazed to the breech, a cone threaded into it, and a new hammer. Furthermore, they rifled the barrel and added a long-range rear sight. When Union purchasing agent Marcellus Harley purchased 2,000 of the rifled muskets in Liege, he called them “Wurttemberg government guns.” No records of Confederate purchases are known
| GOOD–$375 | FINE–$900 |
FRENCH MODEL 1822 RIFLED MUSKET, .69/.71 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Made by royal arsenals at Tylle, Charleville, Mutzig and St. Etienne and copied by Liege manufacturers, ca. 1822-ca. 1842. Total imported: Unknown, but Union records show over 147,000 French and Belgium muskets were purchased.
Overall length:Type I, 58".
Type Type II, 55-4/5".
Type II, 55-4/5".
Muzzleloader, single shot.
Lock plate markings reflect arsenals where manufactured. The barrel tang is engraved with the model designation, “M 1822” and year of manufacture. Liege-made examples have only the year of manufacture proof marks. A “T” will follow the model number on weapons altered in French arsenals. French barrels may also be stamped with the date of alteration and caliber in millimeters in addition to the usual proof marks.
French regular line infantry carried the longer, Type I Model 1822 muskets. Voltiguers (light infantry) carried the shorter, Type II muskets. Both were originally configured as smoothbore, flintlock muskets, but were later converted to percussion by replacing the hammer and inserting a cone directly in the top of the barrel and plugging the vent or by brazing a bolster over the vent. Many were rifled and received long-range rear sights at the same time. Union gun buyers purchased at least 147,000 French and Belgian muskets during the Civil War. However, their records do not indicate model designations making it impossible to know exactly how many Model 1822 muskets made it to the United States. The U.S. Ordnance Department rated French and Belgian rifled muskets as 2nd class. No record of Confederate purchases is known.
| BOTH TYPES: GOOD–$375 | FINE–$900 |
FRENCH MODEL 1842 RIFLED MUSKET, .70/.71 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Made by French royal and Imperial arsenals and copied by Liege manufacturers, ca. 1842-ca. 1855. Total imported: Unknown, but Union records show over 147,000 French and Belgium muskets were purchased.
Overall length:Type I, 58-1/4".
Type II, 56".
Muzzleloader, single shot.
Lock plate markings reflect arsenals where manufactured. Between 1848 and 1852, French lock plates are inscribed with “Mre. Nle. de” followed by a city name. After 1852, this was changed to “Mre. Impale. de” followed by the city name. The barrel tang is engraved with the model designation, “M 1842” and year of manufacture.
Liege-made examples have only the year of manufacture proof marks. A “T” will follow the model number on weapons altered in French arsenals. French barrels may also be stamped with the date of alteration and caliber in millimeters in addition to the usual proof marks. millimeters in addition to the usual proof marks.
Originally configured as smoothbore muskets, the Model 1842 was the first percussion long arm that the French Army adopted. French regular line infantry carried a 58-1/4” long version of the Model 1842 musket. Voltiguers (light infantry) carried a shorter, 56” long version. Either sized of the Model 1842 can be recognized by its back-action lock. All iron was left bright. In 1853, many Model 1842 muskets were rifled and received long-range sights. The longer infantry line weapons were shortened to 56” at this time. Union gun buyers purchased at least 147,000 French and Belgian rifled and smoothbore muskets during the Civil War. However, their records do not indicate model designations, making it impossible to know exactly how many Model 1842 rifled muskets made it to the United States. The U.S. Ordnance Department rated French and Belgian rifled muskets as 2nd class. No record of Confederate purchases is known.
| BOTH TYPES: GOOD–$375 | FINE–$900 |
PIEDMONTESE MODEL 1844/60 RIFLED MUSKET, .69 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Made by state arsenals at Torino, Italy, and Liege, Belgium, ca. 1855. Total imported: Unknown but Union records show at least 2,000 were purchased.
Overall length: 56".
Muzzleloader, single shot.
The weapons imported by the U.S. were manufactured at one of three Liege, Belgium arsenals. Lock plate markings reflect arsenals where manufactured: Those made by August Francotte & Co. are marked with his cypher and “[crown] / AF. Some of the stocks of these will be stamped with a circular “A. Francote-Liège” mark. Falisse and Trapmann stamped lock plates that the produced, “Liège / F&T / 1861. Finally, those produced by Ancion are stamped, “Ancion & Cie / a Liège”.
The Piedmontese Model 1844/60 was the first percussion long arm adopted by the Kingdom of Piedmont. Originally designed as a copy of the French Model 1822 Musket, the Piedmontese weapons were rifled in 1860. Marcellus Harley reported to Secretary of War Stanton in 1862 that he was ready to ship 2,000 Piedmontese Rifled Muskets. No known record of Confederate purchase.
| GOOD–$375 | FINE–$900 |
