1864 U.S. Sringfield

[Bridesburg]

Here is a 1864 Springfield I have .It was converted to shotgun who knows when. Stock has been repaired long ago. Lock works great. How many of the 1864 Springfields were made ? Any way to know where they were shipped.This one surfaced in Florida. It does have eagle left of U.S.SPRINGFIELD and date is 1864

 

[Jobe Holiday]

The Springfield Armory produced 254,340 Model 1864 Springfield Rifle Muskets. Because there was no serial numbering system used with their production it is impossible to tell where your example had been shipped. They remained in use after the Civil War, so it is pretty safe to say they were shipped and used just about everywhere in the United States until they were replaced by cartridge model arms.

You have a nice example of a Model 1864 Springfield which was modified into a utilitarian "farm gun", which probably did service hunting small game for the next 20 or so years after the Civil War!
J.

 

[Bridesburg]

I believe if I cleaned the barrel out it could be used again.

 

[Craig L Barry]

Hmmm. No, not before a competent gunsmith inspects it. For one thing the cone is worn out and rusted to the bolster.

 

[Bridesburg]

Yea I kinda noticed that. Guess it has little value but to shoot it again I would have to get that out of there.It is clear I can stick a pin to the bottom of it just not sure the barrel is clear at the bottom.

 

[Craig L Barry]

Well, I am not a professional gunsmith, but from the look of things here the cone would probably need to be drilled out and the bolster re-tapped, if the metal will take that stress I'm not certain. The shoulder of the cone is non-existent, virtually one with the bolster and the nipple (area above the shoulder) looks pretty narrowed out and thin. I would say this much, do not fire it even with blank rounds in its present condition.

Look, it's a good honest "barn gun" just as it is and as pointed out previously, has seen considerable service in its lifetime.

 

[Bridesburg]

I plan to leave it as it is. Somebody worked awful hard to get those little pieces of stock nailed down.I have other smokepoles to shoot this one I bought because it was a 1864 and as you see has been used a lot. Know tellen how many suppers it provided after the war and it did make it through a brutal war before that.So I am just retiren it to a conversation piece.I have a Bridesburg that may have loaded since the war that I found in Nashville.I retired it as well. This is such a great site Wish I had found it sooner.

 

[originalrebelyell]

Nice old honest well used gun, I have been looking for one converted to a farm gun. Nice piece oil it and hang it up and enjoy it.