Berst weapons of the ACW.

[johan_steele]

Lewis, 7th VA Cav carried quite a lot of different weapons as of 1863-64 time period. Longarms: CSA copy of the Sharps carbine, Merril as well as Smith carbines, Enfield Rifles w/ saber bayonets. Pistols: Colt Army, Colt Navy, Kerr & Savage revolvers. Sorry, no concrete info on what the 2nd Va Inf carried, though I'm rather certain it was a mix of rifles that included the Enfield. Info is courtesy of the list at the back of "An Introduction to Civil War Small Arms" by Earl Coates & Dean Thomas.

The Kerr Rifle was a real eye opener for the period, I'm not certain there was a more accurate military rifle in use. Though the Sharp's had some pretty impressive accuracy.

I recall reading of a Tenesse man in a Union Regiment w/ a Sharps rifle picking off gunners at better than 700 yards. He and another sharpshooter owned the battery. The CS troops could neither move it nor fire it without getting shot.

For what it's worth Lewis you can pick up an excellent "defarbed" Armisport Enfield & Springfield for the neigborhood of $1200 for the pair from either Lodgewood or Zimmerman. Mr Zimmerman's shop is in Harper's Ferry & he's been working on repops & originals for most of thirty years. An original Springfield in servicable condition will run you $1300 and probably a bit more for an Enfield in similar condition.

If you're interested in some good firearms sites let me know & I'll give you the links.

I would strongly suggest picking up William Edwards "Civil War Guns" $40-45 and worth every penny.

Sanity is overrated...

[rivrrat]

Lew,
I don't know what the 7th Va. Cav. carried, but Confederate cav. was not too much in love with sabers. They liked revolvers, less likely to cut off your horse's ear.

[oldsoul3]

Thank you very much Doug and Shane (please feel free to call me Lew if you wish)

I had often wondered about the swords, Doug, I certainly have to admit that I succumed to the romantic image of my GGrandfather and his older brother dashing through the splended,late autumn,light in the Shenandoah Valley with the Laurel brigade,waving glinting sabers as they clashed with Custers troopers! Oh well, I can always have my image-and I am certain that sabers were sometimes used-but like you say-probably not often. I did truely enjoy the living history last October at Cedar Creek though! I have been a Loyal spectator for years there and last year the scenario was of the battle of Goose Creek Bridge. They did a most splended Cavalry battle! I do really appreciate what living historians do! My kids and grandkids were there and it means so much to see them getting into the history! But the shots I have of the glinting sabers are fantastic-even if they are not completely authentic.LOL
Shane, thank you for the great info on the 7th VA Cav. I will certainly continue to follow up. I do believe the variety of weapons. In my regimental history of the 7th the roster shows a variety of CS and personal horse use and I can surmise that individual weapons were also used at times. If you could get me the web links I would appreciate it very much, thank you. I am always interested in learning more!
I have spent most of my time and money on relic's, origional letters and photos (and books of course!) so far, and have not yet joined a living history unit. I really do think that living history is one of the most wonderful ways to demonstrate history and educate people and I appreciate it very much. A certain friend of mine is working on me though, and I intend to try it out on a visit to Gettysburg this spring. We shall see? My wife just shakes her head and wonders when it will all stop! Never! LOL So, I may need those weapons sites!
Thanks again! I am still going to save for an 1840 Cav saber! lol

Lew

[8thvacav]

Hi Guys, I'm a newby on here. What can you tell me about a 1863 U.S. Norwich .58 cal... My cousin's gg grandfather carried it in the CW. I have shot it many times. It looks like a Springfield.
Martin

[gary]

From page 44-45 of William Edwards, "Civil War Guns."

In association with Frederick W. Carnmann, paper manufacturer James D. Mowry of Norwich, Connecticut engaged to supply Springfields. He at first expected to make them in his father's machine shop in Norwhich, but when he received an order for only 30,000 guns, decided to get the parts made here and there and sub-contract the assembly. Samuel Norris in Springfield was to assemble the parts which had all been arranged for by May of 1862 when Mr. Carnmann came before the Commission to give a progress report. Barrels of course came from Washburn, though one Congdon, importer of English hardware, had received samples of British barrel skelps which he was to have finished up at the Armory to see if they were suitable. Norris would supply the mountings; stocks to come from their own machinery set up in New York; and locks from either Williams & Company of Philadelphia at $2.25, or Bateman, New York, at $2. Said Mr. Carnmann:

'Mr. Norris has agreed... to assemble the arms and be responsible for the inspection. Unless I can do better, I will accept this offer. I have had three offers from manufacturers to make these guns complete at their risk; these offers were from $17 to $18.50. My disbursements thus far have been small, and Mr. Mowry's also.'

The Commission reduced the number of arms to 20,000, and Mowry went ahead. He solved the problem by procuring arms from two suppliers; two types of Mowry-marked arms exist. As Mr. Carnmann said in explanation before the Commission's decision, 'He applied for 50,000 guns, but as he only got 30,000 he decided not to make much - only a part of the work.' Mowry supplied guns marked his name, U.S./JAS. D. MOWRY/NORWICH CONN. on the lock with an eagle, forward of the hammer. While Fuller categorically states 'He sublet all parts except the stocks which he made in New York. The arms were assembled at Springfield, Mass.' this appears not to be true for the most part. We believe the Mowry-stamped lockplates are fitted to arms fabricated for Mowry, doubtless using his sources of supply and any other sources of parts handy in season, by the Eagle Manufacturing Company at Mansfield, Connecticut. Reference to the contract in proper form which Mowry was directed to execute including bond with sureties for performance, to deliver 20,000 arms, said contract to be executed in 15 days after notice of this decision, indicate the connection."

Mr. Edwards essay continues for almost a page, too much for me to type here. His book was first published in 1962 by Stackpole and is still in print. I recommend it highly.

[johan_steele]

Welocome to the board Martin.

It is a Springfield model 1861. Norwich Arms Co. of Norwich, Conn made about 25,000 during the war.

Once in the field, Ordanance officers looked on all contract Springfields as identical and issued them w/out regard to manufacture.

I can vouch that Norwich made Springfields were w/ troops as far west as Illinois Regiments.

The best contractor was probably Dinslow & Chase Windsor Locks... another name for a Colt manufactured Springfield. The Remington and Savage manufactured SApringfields were quite prized as well. All told there were better than twenty contractors for the Springfield. All were of generally high quality as the quality control and inspectors did a pretty good job.

Depending on the condition it's worth starts at about $800 and goes up.

Edwards, William B. "Civil War Guns" is a wealth of resource on Civil War Small Arms.

Hope that helps some.

[8thvacav]

Thanks for the info Guys.
Martin