Confederate Percussion Conversion

[1863]

Could someone tell me what confederate armory/arsenal may have done this flintlock to percussion conversion? The rifle was one of the 1808 Virginia Militia Contract Rifles. Likely saw service in the War of 1812 as well as the Civil War. Originally had a 44.5" barrel & now 36. There is a 44 stamped on the muzzle. I doubt the conversion was done by a civilian cause most of those did not use this military bolster, & hammer. . Thanks or any input.

 

[Patrick H]

I can't answer your specific question, but the nipple on that piece looks new. Everything else looks well worn and corroded by lots of cap fire.

 

[1863]

Yes, I figure the nipple is new. Just something someone put in there, as the other one probably was missing. The original one may have corroded away. Who knows someone may have been shooting this gun lately. I figure this gun got a lot of percussion fire during the CW. I don't think when It was flint it got a lot of use.

 

[rob63]

I looked through Confederate Rifles & Muskets by Murphy and Madaus and it appears to me that you have a conversion done by Merrill, Thomas & Company of Baltimore, Md. See pages 487-491. They were done in 1861 at the beginning of the crisis.

If you compare the bolster and hammer to the ones used on the Merrill carbine you will see the resemblance.

 

[1863]

Wow, thanks that is what I was looking for. I will find a copy of that book. I was looking in some of the books I had of Martial arms , but could not really find anything. Very good info

PS , just went on amazon , that book is 350.00-1200.00. Don't think I will buy a copy.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

Would you happen to have a photo of the patch box?
J.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

I am not able to identify who did the alteration, but I can tell you it is one very rare rifle!
J.

 

[1863]

I am not able to identify who did the alteration, but I can tell you it is one very rare rifle!
J.

I have to agree. The rifle was made between 1808-1815 for the Virginia Militia & they was only 570 made. (see page 87 of The Virginia Manufactory of Arms by Cromwell) Then in in 1861 according to the info that Rob63 gave us , some of them were converted to percussion by Merrill for the Confederacy. . So I am guessing that few survived the war, and even less to the present. Some guy told me yesterday it was one of the very first true Confederate Rifles. I think it is cool that it may have been used in the War of 1812 as well. Has anyone ever seen the chisel mark across a bolster before? Was that done at the time of conversion or later? It was done with intent and confidence, so I think at an arsenal. I took the barrel off and found some roman numerals, I know that arsenals did that when they did conversions. The muzzle has a 44 stamped on it. I thought it was the ball size, but , was informed today that it may be the "alteration number". Oh here is that picture of the patch box again. I wanted to get more pictures today.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

Going by the patch box, what you really have is a Richmond Manufactory Rifle, it is not a contract arm. It was made by the State of Virginia at their arms manufactory in Richmond, for issue to Virginia Rifle Companies. The patch box is the last type made for that series of rifles. If I remember correctly the last year of production was 1821 and there were only 75 rifles produced that year. Survival rate is extremely low. The tail of the lock would have had "Richmond" in an arc with the date of manufacture below that. It looks as if your lock has been polished clean at some point, perhaps when it was altered, but unfortunately all marks have been lost, at least from what I see in the photo.

I can't tell what I am looking at in the photo regarding the "chisel cut". In my opinion it was done much later than the alteration to percussion.

Do some research on Richmond Manufactory Rifles, you will be surprised at what you have!
J.

 

[1863]

No, I don't think so. See page 87 of "The Virginia manufactory of Arms" by Cromwell & page 150 of "United States Martial Flintlocks" both books say these were produced from 1808-1815 by Frederick Sheetz under the Virginia Contract. Says about 570 were delivered in that time frame. Also says the locks had no markings. Says some makers used locks supplied by Virginia Manufactory , but that Sheetz made his own. The patch box may look similar, but is different.

See this link, they have some info on these rifles, but nothing about the Merrill Conversions.
http://hampshirecountylongrifles.blogspot.com/search?q=frederick

 

[Jobe Holiday]

You're right! I overlooked the patch box release, which on the Richmond Manufactory Rifle should be a toe release button.
J.