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paulheels · #1 02-01-2005, 11:35 PM

I am new to the site. Paul from Mebane north carolina. I am a History of War major at UNC and have done a good bit of reading on the Civil War. I have a 1854 Springfield 50. cal US Army Issue muzzle loader. I am trying to find some info on it. Anyone got any information I would appreciate it, thanks

#2 02-01-2005, 11:37 PM

Paul,
Although I cannot answer your questions, I'm positive that you have come to the right place. I hope that you will stick around and jump right in on the various debates. Welcome and I hope that you enjoy the forum as much as I have.
YMOS
tommy

oh, N.C. had some great soldiers. salute

(Message edited by aphillbilly on February 01, 2005)

unionblue · #3 02-01-2005, 11:46 PM

Paul,

Welcome to the board. I hope you do enjoy your time here and that you will participate in our discussions here.

As for your '54 Springfield, have you checked out the book, Arms and Equipment of the Union? You may find some information on the rifle there. I wish you well in your search.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

paulheels · #4 02-01-2005, 11:55 PM

thanks Neil, I will have to check that book out when I get a chance.

johan_steele · #5 02-02-2005, 07:19 AM

Welcome aboard Paul... 1854, .50 and marked Springfield. That is unusual. In 1854 there were not any .50's made by Springfield, the famed M1841 "Mississippi Rifle" is a .54. I would be interested in more detail, what markings are on the lock, how many barrel bands, what is the length of the barrel, is it rifled etc and I might suggest a set of calipers to verify the caliber. I'll wager it is probably .54,.58 or .69.

Of coarse there is also the chance that a smitty put a different barrel on it at some point. .50 was typically a post war caliber.

Now if it had a knob on the bottom and was a breach loader I would start salivating all over my keyboard and congratulate you on having a Hall Rifle or carbine.

I might suggest <u>Civil War Guns</u> by Edwards. I would think your University Library would have it as it is probably the definitive work on the matter.

thea_447 · #6 02-02-2005, 07:59 AM

Welcome to the boards, Paul. I know you will enjoy your time here.

paulheels · #7 02-02-2005, 06:50 PM

Thanks Shane. I have not been able to find anything on it. The gun is in South Carolina, I will get alot more info on it when I can. This is what my Dad was telling me it was, I think he found some info on a book.

ole · #8 02-02-2005, 11:21 PM

Paul:

I join the others in welcoming you aboard. I'll guess that you'll learn more on this board than you will in your history classes at UNC. Not that UNC is lame, but that here you will be forced to read books and resources you never wanted to read. And that you will learn things you never cared about.

It will be an effort for you to avoid becoming consumed, abandoning your formal studies and spending the rest of your formative years in the streets begging for money to buy books.

Jump in now and then when your studies permit. Good luck with all that, and I hope you end up where you want to be.

Ole

ole · #9 02-02-2005, 11:28 PM

One more time, Paul. Shane knows guns so take what he says as gospel. Anything that can be proven to be from that era has enough value to get you another semester, but you'll likely find it more valuable to you, 30 years from now, hanging over your fireplace where you can bore the bejeesus out of your children with your endless recounting of the good old days.

johan_steele · #10 02-03-2005, 07:46 AM

I'll add to what Ole has said of CW arms as an investment. When my father was still gunsmithing in the late 1970's he had more than a dozen 1861,63 Springfields cross his bench I believe he recalls selling them for less than $150... When he decided the need to own one a couple years ago he paid $1300, a thirty year increase of value far better than any savings account.

THe ability to hold an original is priceless being able to live fire one is even better!

I would suggest <u>An Introduction to Civil War Small Arms</u> by Coates & THomas. THis is a book readily available at most NPS site gift shops of the CW persuasion and I believe almost all CW sutlers carry it. At under $10 retail it is priceless. While not all inclusive and only full of general info it is the "cliff notes" of the subject.

Btw Paul... if you switch your major to American CW Studies we have suceeded. That is what happened to Stephen Ambrose. Well not exactly; there wasn't an internet for him but a professor spiked his interest in the subject.

(Message edited by johan_steele on February 03, 2005)