1861 Springfield with unknown markings...

[kcpj]

Hey all! First time poster and rookie on CW rifles. I have started a collection of Springfields and this is now my 3rd one. On the left side of the barrel, there is a small "W P". on the bottom of the barrel, there are other marks such as "W.T.M", maybe a "P", an "0" and a "4". Can anyone tell me what these represent?

I'm a bit disappointed with the bore of the barrel as someone bored it out to 0.600" and removed the rifling. Any suggestions on how to make it right? (Swap barrel with an original, liner, other suggestions?) My goal is to have all my Springfields in shooting condition.

Thanks in advance...

 

[UCVRelics]

I'm a bit disappointed with the bore of the barrel as someone bored it out to 0.600" and removed the rifling. Any suggestions on how to make it right? (Swap barrel with an original, liner, other suggestions?) My goal is to have all my Springfields in shooting condition.

I would leave the barrel as is and just have a bullet mold for a round ball made to fit it. On the markings lets see what @johan_steele has to say.

 

[JOHN42768]

WTM stands for William T. McNally an inspector. P most likely a proof mark. WP likely William Paige at Springfield late 1863

 

[johan_steele]

It's a good honest Springfield M1861. You have four options as to the barrel. You can replace it with another original Springfield barrel or you can get it relined. I would talk to Lodgewood and see what he has in stock. Dave Stavlo is certainly qualified to install a liner. If you're a re-enactor or living historian you can use it to burn powder. If you want a nice wall hanger as the center of your civil war display leave her as she is.

 

[Kyle Kalasnik]

Nice!

From what previous posts stated you have a few options.

Think about it, maybe even inquire a bit more from people at CWT and what they would do.

Or just go with what works best for you. You stated you would like all your Springfields to be in shooting condition, maybe you already have the answer.

By the way, I gathered from your post that you have others? Please post if possible

 

[kcpj]

WTM stands for William T. McNally an inspector. P most likely a proof mark. WP likely William Paige at Springfield late 1863

Thanks for identifying those marks for meI have a question...if the rifle is an 1861, how would WP in 1863 stamp it? I'm guessing it may have come back for refurbishing or is it a barrel replacement?

 

[kcpj]

It's a good honest Springfield M1861. You have four options as to the barrel. You can replace it with another original Springfield barrel or you can get it relined. I would talk to Lodgewood and see what he has in stock. Dave Stavlo is certainly qualified to install a liner. If you're a re-enactor or living historian you can use it to burn powder. If you want a nice wall hanger as the center of your civil war display leave her as she is.

I'm tempted to put a liner in it, so to keep at least the historical "shell". The outside of the barrel is in great condition for its age. Does the liner show a seam at the muzzle? If so, maybe another 1861 barrel is the way to go. Not sure yet on what to do. I'll give Lodgewood a call...

 

[kcpj]

Nice!

From what previous posts stated you have a few options.

Think about it, maybe even inquire a bit more from people at CWT and what they would do.

Or just go with what works best for you. You stated you would like all your Springfields to be in shooting condition, maybe you already have the answer.

By the way, I gathered from your post that you have others? Please post if possible

I really do want the 1861 in shooing condition. Some of my friends think I'm crazy, but...

So, I do have other Springfields. I have an 1890 Trapdoor, a 1903 MK1 and a M1 Garand Letterkenny arsenal rebuild. Looking to buy a 1842 and a 1795/1816 flintlock sometime in the future. I'm currently restoring a Dutch Type 3 musket that was used in the Am. Rev.

 

[JOHN42768]

Thanks for identifying those marks for meI have a question...if the rifle is an 1861, how would WP in 1863 stamp it? I'm guessing it may have come back for refurbishing or is it a barrel replacement?

Paige became an inspector in October 1862 and was not assigned to Springfield till November 1863. Guessing likely the barrel is not original to the 1861. Is any date readable on top of barrel tang? Also William McNally is only recorded as inspecting the last half of the Civil War.

 

[johan_steele]

I'm tempted to put a liner in it, so to keep at least the historical "shell". The outside of the barrel is in great condition for its age. Does the liner show a seam at the muzzle? If so, maybe another 1861 barrel is the way to go. Not sure yet on what to do. I'll give Lodgewood a call...

A skilled gunsmith can do it so the liner seam is all but invisible.

 

[29thWisCoG]

The barrel may not be original with the lock... it still looks great! After researching my M1861 I found that the lock/stock/barrel were all from different rifles, but all manufactured in 1861. I wanted a shooter as well, and a barrel that still had some decent rifling. My rifle doesn't group up at all (but I haven't experimented with different bullet diameters), but it is really fun to shoot as I'm sure yours will also. You can slug the barrel and have a custom round ball mold made for it, as suggested.

 

[kcpj]

Paige became an inspector in October 1862 and was not assigned to Springfield till November 1863. Guessing likely the barrel is not original to the 1861. Is any date readable on top of barrel tang? Also William McNally is only recorded as inspecting the last half of the Civil War.

It's not readable, but I'm going to try to etch it out and see if the year does pop up.

 

[kcpj]

The barrel may not be original with the lock... it still looks great! After researching my M1861 I found that the lock/stock/barrel were all from different rifles, but all manufactured in 1861. I wanted a shooter as well, and a barrel that still had some decent rifling. My rifle doesn't group up at all (but I haven't experimented with different bullet diameters), but it is really fun to shoot as I'm sure yours will also. You can slug the barrel and have a custom round ball mold made for it, as suggested.

It does look awesome! I dropped a bore light down the barrel this morning. The barrel was bored out about halfway down from the muzzle. The rifling exists from there to the breech. Sooooo, I got a rifle for 20" and a smoothbore the rest of the way.

 

[Kyle Kalasnik]

I'm tempted to put a liner in it, so to keep at least the historical "shell". The outside of the barrel is in great condition for its age. Does the liner show a seam at the muzzle? If so, maybe another 1861 barrel is the way to go. Not sure yet on what to do. I'll give Lodgewood a call...

Lodgewood was brought to my attention from people on this forum.
I have done business with that company a few times. Couldn't be happier with the customer service, and results. I'd highly recommend them to anyone.

 

[Story]

Bobby Hoyt (out past Gettysburg) has been satisfying the N-SSA shooters with his barrel relining work.

I've got a trapdoor carbine barrel done by him.