previous post next post  

Still working the ammo post.

By The Armorer on March 24, 2004 | | Comments (4)

To keep you vultures happy, here's a pic of an 1842 musket converted from flintlock to percussion. The brass is where the flintlock pan was removed - and the barrel around the nipple shows characteristic wear from lots of firing. No documentation to prove it, but this is probably a Civil War veteran, from one of the western regiments of the Union army. The rifle itself came out of an estate in Iowa.

Share This Article:

Categories:

4 Comments

By Dave on March 24, 2004 8:19 AM
Springfield or Harpers Ferry? I can't tell from the picture.
 
By homebru on March 24, 2004 9:10 AM
And what's with the cut-out at the front of the hammer? Since the nipple appears to be off-center of the barrel, I don't think the hammer-notch serves as a rear sight (as on some of the Colt percussion pistols). Unless the barrel has some really bad bend to it.
 
By Chris Muir on March 24, 2004 4:42 PM
suh-weet! Though I will stick to my Anschutz .22 for accuracy, I would love to have a piece of Americana,man!
 
By John of Argghhh! on March 24, 2004 6:25 PM
Lesse... Springfield. The notch is to provide relief for the gas expansion of the cap, so that the weak point is to the front, away from the firers face. Essentially provide an escape hatch. It has the equally important function of stress relief for the hammer, as well. Chris - One of these rifles in good shape, combat conditions, not sniper/basement rifle range, I'll take ya.
 
© 2008 John Donovan
All rights reserved.