1846 Springfield Rifle

[Ginny]

Wow! Thank you. I didn

Appears to be a M1842 musket. This would be a 69 caliber smoothbore. The existing lock plate is dated 1855, which would be in the latter end of the manufacturing of the M1842's. The lock plate has "Springfield" on it, however the hammer present appears to be a Harpers Ferry made type...

Unfortunately the weapon has been cut down... at least the stock has been.... or commonly referred to as "sporterized".... Many of these weapons were sold off rather cheaply post war... One of the common civilian uses was to cut it down in such fashion to convert it into a hunting shotgun... A lot of these like this out there. Interesting wall hanger for sure.... Unfortunately it also greatly hampers the historical or collector value.

Thank you! I didn't mean to confuse anyone but someone else's rifle photo got down loaded by accident. I was trying to enlarge the photo and must have hit the wrong button. Thank you again for such wonderful information. Do you know what the value would be ?

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Hello Ginny.
Welcome to the forums.

Thanks for posting the pictures of your musket.

 

[Craig L Barry]

You will be able to find quite a bit of information on the US 1842 with very little effort. It was a fairly common Civil War musket, especially early in the war. It was the first "parts interchangeable" percussion military arm produced by the American system of manufacture (using machinery). Hence, a US 1842 made at Springfield Armory would interchange parts with one made at Harper's Ferry.

The tall hammer spur was not exclusive to US 1842 muskets made by either Springfield or Harper's Ferry Armories, but they do show up on Harper's Ferry produced muskets more often for some reason. 1855 was the last year of production for the US model 1842.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

The tall hammer spur is known as the "Type 2 Hammer". It was lengthened so as to make the musket able to be supported by your fingers when held at the right side with the trigger guard facing out. There is a specific Civil War term for this position, which will take someone better versed in "The Manual of Arms" than I am to properly identify.
J.

 

[johan_steele]

The tall hammer spur is known as the "Type 2 Hammer". It was lengthened so as to make the musket able to be supported by your fingers when held at the right side with the trigger guard facing out. There is a specific Civil War term for this position, which will take someone better versed in "The Manual of Arms" than I am to properly identify.
J.

Shoulder arms is the term you're looking for.

 

[originalrebelyell]

Even though the stock has been cut back I like these old guns.

 

[James N.]

Welcome to the forums! My M. '42 is at the top:

 

[Patrick H]

Welcome, Ginny. I like your musket.

 

[Pvt.Shattuck]

Lots of old muskets still around because they're sturdy and no one ever throws away Grandpa's Civil War musket.
Just try to find a pair of original drawers, though. GG Grandma cut 'em up for dishrags in 1866!

 

[originalrebelyell]

Welcome to the forums! My M. '42 is at the top:
What is the bottom musket it looks a bit like a like a Springfield 1835 / 1840 I have with the cone in the barrel conversion.

 

[originalrebelyell]

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I have a Springfield 1816 cut down like it

 

[originalrebelyell]

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I have a Springfield 1816 with the stock cut like that.

 

[Ginny]

Thank you everyone for such a warm welcome. I have been trying to do this posting from my phone and it's been, well let's just say it's not been easy!!!
The pictures I posted were accurate. I thought one of them got mixed up with mine while I was getting help posting the photos. We've been trying to find a value on this rifle. Does anyone have any idea. There are no collectors near to where we live in Bradenton FL. Well thank you again. You all have a blessed weekend

 

[Jobe Holiday]

The only way to put a value on a cut-down musket is to add up the aggregate value of the parts. IMHO, you are looking at a marketable value of about $250 - $275.
J.

 

[tbuckley]

I have always liked the muskets that had been cut down for a second life as a civilian shotgun. In about 1966 I had a chance to buy a M1861 cut down rifle musket that was still being used to hunt rabbits. The old man wanted $8.00 for the M1861 but being a dumb 15 year old I passed on that and bought a 12 gauge single shot he had for $5.00. I can also remember a very old man telling me that he loaded the gun his daddy brought home from the war with shot for his first squirrel hunt. I have a M1842 Austrian Leman conversion that had been cut down, obviously by an amateur.
I wish I could go back to the time when I could buy a cut-down M1861 for $8.00, Krags for $35.00, M98 Mausers for $30, and Arisakas for $10.00. The good old days.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

I remember those "Good Ol' Days" very well!
J.

 

[originalrebelyell]

I paid $200 for my cut down 1816
Springfield

 

[James N.]

I have a Springfield 1816 cut down like it

That's what mine is as well - a M.1816/22 made in Harpers Ferry dated 1831. The middle one is more elusive - the M.1840. It was made in Springfield and dated 1842, making it one of the last produced before the new M.1842's came out. The difference between the two is that the 1840 was the last regulation shoulder arm made as a flintlock, whereas the 1842 was the first musket actually made in percussion. (Not counting of course the more limited production M.1841 or Mississippi Rifle.) Other than the ignition system the two are virtually identical in appearance.

 

[Ginny]

The only way to put a value on a cut-down musket is to add up the aggregate value of the parts. IMHO, you are looking at a marketable value of about $250 - $275.
J.

Thank you so much for your help.

 

[Ginny]

The only way to put a value on a cut-down musket is to add up the aggregate value of the parts. IMHO, you are looking at a marketable value of about $250 - $275.
J.

Thank you so much again.