Cutdown M1840 Springfield with weird initials

[R. Porter]

If "professionally" made into a cheap shotgun after the War by being cut down, it should have a nicely shaped foreend, and a bead sight at the end of the barrel.
This looks like a farmer with a hacksaw did the work.
I once owned an Enfield with confederate viewer mark (done in Britian before it was shipped over here), with full length barrel, but the wood stock chopped short with an axe or hatchet! This was done without take the stock off, so the chop marks are on the metal as well as the wood. Just a half dozen strokes, and that extra wood was gone!

One group who would routinely shorten rifles, shot guns, and muskets with hacksaws and chopped off un-nessary wood stock parts were Native Americans. Shorter long arms were easier for them to use from horseback and they didn't encounter gun smiths as often as pioneers and farmers. If you've ever looked at some of the collection from the Rock Island Arsenal you'll see a lot of non-standard rule-of -thumb modifications.

 

[scooter748driver]

There is an article online dated September 6, 2015, by the Pioneer Press titled, "Gun used to kill bandit in famed 1876 raid returns to Northfield." Apparently there is also a watch given to him by one of the banks and a pistol he carried after the incident. You have to supply an e-mail address to get access to the whole article. The gun does not appear to be a cut-down musket but instead a breech-loading Smith Carbine.

Gun used to kill bandit in famed 1876 raid returns to Northfield

NORTHFIELD, Minn. — The rifle used by Henry Wheeler, a pioneer physician, to kill a member of the James-Younger Gang and injure another during the Northfield Bank Robbery in 1876 now is on permanent display in Northfield.

www.twincities.com

There is a photographic portrait of Henry Wheeler seated and holding a fur hat in one of his hands at this link:

Portrait of Henry Wheeler Sr.

Portrait of Henry Wheeler Sr. seated in a chair wearing a suit. Arm resting on a small table, other hand holding a hat. Sepia-toned photograph with mark that appears to be from tape at the top.

contentdm.carleton.edu

There are a number of images on a flicker account including the carbine, Cole Younger's pistol and belt rig. It's a Moore Revolver, the belt is black leather army surplus with a rectangular eagle plate and black leather holster.

Smith Carbine at:

https://flic.kr/p/NpRTWJ

.32 cal. rim fire single action model 1860 Moore revolver at:

https://flic.kr/p/NwYKTh

You are correct. The weapon pictures is a Smith carbine and not a cut down musket.