Recent Find Ramrod issues for 1842.

Kyle Kalasnik

First Sergeant
Joined
Aug 3, 2014
Location
Potter County, PA
This Springfield 1842 Rifled Musket was given in lieu of cash for a plumbing job I did for a lady down the road from me.

She’s a widow, childless, and I don’t believe is struggling financially.

A good friend of mine who is is a general contractor said her late husband had all kinds of firearms, she could care less about them, and sometimes if the contractor agrees, uses a firearm(s) as payment instead of cash or as supplemental payment.

Anyways here it is.
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I love it. I have been in the market for a rifled 1842, so this works out.

My only concern is the ramrod. I think it is just a bit too long.

As you all can see from the pics it is for conical rounds. It appears to be authentic.

When it is stored underneath the barrel it sticks 3/8” past the barrel.

To remove the ramrod (to use it) requires pliers.

When withdrawn and put down the barrel the treaded end stick1/4”.

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions. Thank you in advance.

Respectfully,
Kyle Kalasnik
 
I would check the ramrod channel as over time **** gets built up. If you field strip it pull the barrel and get to the stock you can see if there is anything in the bottom of the channel. Paging @johan_steele
 
This Springfield 1842 Rifled Musket was given in lieu of cash for a plumbing job I did for a lady down the road from me.

She’s a widow, childless, and I don’t believe is struggling financially.

A good friend of mine who is is a general contractor said her late husband had all kinds of firearms, she could care less about them, and sometimes if the contractor agrees, uses a firearm(s) as payment instead of cash or as supplemental payment.

Anyways here it is.
View attachment 396134View attachment 396135View attachment 396136View attachment 396137View attachment 396138View attachment 396139
I love it. I have been in the market for a rifled 1842, so this works out.

My only concern is the ramrod. I think it is just a bit too long.

As you all can see from the pics it is for conical rounds. It appears to be authentic.

When it is stored underneath the barrel it sticks 3/8” past the barrel.

To remove the ramrod (to use it) requires pliers.

When withdrawn and put down the barrel the treaded end stick1/4”.

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions. Thank you in advance.

Respectfully,
Kyle Kalasnik
The ramrod may be a modern replacement. Ramrods for the Model 1842 Rifled Musket were available through Lodgewood. All that being said you have a wonderful example that model and having a replacement rod doesn't detract from the weapon. I would leave everything the way it is even if it does stick out a bit.
 
The ramrod may be a modern replacement. Ramrods for the Model 1842 Rifled Musket were available through Lodgewood. All that being said you have a wonderful example that model and having a replacement rod doesn't detract from the weapon. I would leave everything the way it is even if it does stick out a bit.
Yeah I know Lodgewood has those ramrods, hoping mine is an orginal one😬.... I’ll post some photos of just the ramrod. Thanks for your help.
 
Years ago I was purchasing a replacement ramrod from a gentleman at a gun show and simply asked him how I could tell whether or not the one he was selling me was actually an original or not? He looked puzzled for a second and then said "I don't know."

Some of the reproductions are made with the head as a separate piece that screws onto the shaft, if so, you can see the line where they join near the place where the ramrod begins to flare out. There are reproductions that are made all as one piece like the originals, so it's not a guarantee that it is original if it is one piece, but it is certainly a reproduction if it is two pieces.
 
Years ago I was purchasing a replacement ramrod from a gentleman at a gun show and simply asked him how I could tell whether or not the one he was selling me was actually an original or not? He looked puzzled for a second and then said "I don't know."

Some of the reproductions are made with the head as a separate piece that screws onto the shaft, if so, you can see the line where they join near the place where the ramrod begins to flare out. There are reproductions that are made all as one piece like the originals, so it's not a guarantee that it is original if it is one piece, but it is certainly a reproduction if it is two pieces.
Thanks for the information.
 
That's a nice lookin '42. Congrats. I have several rifled '42s and each has a different style rammer, to include one of foreign make so I think yours is legit.

I notice that your musket has the armory style rear sight. Usually, if Springfield Armory added the rear sight they also added a higher front sight. When you take off the front barrel band, is there a mortise milled in the top of the barrel? If so, that means that Springfield rifled your musket. The reason for the mortise was because the rivet securing the new sight extended downward and the mortise provided the clearance needed. If no mortise, the rifling was done at another armory.
 
Nice looking musket...congrats!

The ramrod retaining spring might be gunked up or jammed by rust, etc. Should be fixable. Post pictures of it and ask for help here before you attempt any "repairs". The "spring" usually looks like a narrow curved spoon on muskets, held in by a pin inserted into the wood (though I don't know exactly what it looks like on the 1842).

As far as I know, there are no little old ladies in my neighbourhood that have Civil War muskets to pay with.:stomp:
 
She’s a widow, childless, and I don’t believe is struggling financially.
I'm assuming you asked if the musket was passed down in her family from a CW ancestor......You did, didn't you?

As far as I know, there are no little old ladies in my neighbourhood that have Civil War muskets to pay with.
I think we all dream of something like that!
 
I'm assuming you asked if the musket was passed down in her family from a CW ancestor......You did, didn't you?


I think we all dream of something like that!
I did ask if there was any family connection. She said no all of her grandparents and her late husband’s grandparents and great grandparents were immigrants from Europe in the late 1890s and early 1900s.

He was just a big firearm enthusiast.

My buddy (who has a plumbing/heating business) will ask me to help him out on big jobs.

He gave a ring, said he was too busy to do this one. I took it, and when I showed up to check it out and give an estimate, she was upfront about paying, or allowing me to see if there was a firearm I was interested in.

Like I said I have been in the market for an 1842 Rifled Musket for a while, what are the odds. I’m still in disbelief.
 
Nice looking musket...congrats!

The ramrod retaining spring might be gunked up or jammed by rust, etc. Should be fixable. Post pictures of it and ask for help here before you attempt any "repairs". The "spring" usually looks like a narrow curved spoon on muskets, held in by a pin inserted into the wood (though I don't know exactly what it looks like on the 1842).

As far as I know, there are no little old ladies in my neighbourhood that have Civil War muskets to pay with.:stomp:
I’ll take a look when I get a chance and let you know.
 
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