M1861 Springfield barely shortened?

[danielking1775]

I found a m1861 dated 61! I don't have one dated 61 is the only reason I'd consider it. The problem is the barrel is just shy of full length. Look at length of rammer vs barrel. You can tell it's an old cut, think it was bent on the end and an arsenal refurb or done much later? Thanks

 

[Bugattimiller]

Interestingly on closer examination of the barrel band in your photo the U dosen't line up with the spring. Looks very confederate to me, can you post photos of the other barrel bands. It seems confederate hand stamped bands hardly ever lined up. Would be interested in any other peoples thoughts.

 

[danielking1775]

Interestingly on closer examination of the barrel band in your photo the U dosen't line up with the spring. Looks very confederate to me, can you post photos of the other barrel bands. It seems confederate hand stamped bands hardly ever lined up. Would be interested in any other peoples thoughts.

Very good observation! I passed on this one and may have to reconsider…

 

[johan_steele]

You're going to have to measure the barrel. At first blush It doesn't look shortened to me. It isn't uncommon to have a ramrod stick out a bit. A lot of things can be to blame such as wood shrinkage, obstruction, whoever put it in last didn't push it in all the way etc.

 

[danielking1775]

You're going to have to measure the barrel. At first blush It doesn't look shortened to me. It isn't uncommon to have a ramrod stick out a bit. A lot of things can be to blame such as wood shrinkage, obstruction, whoever put it in last didn't push it in all the way etc.

It is short by about a 1/4 of an inch

 

[Don Dixon]

I wouldn't be surprised if the barrel got dinged at some point and it was recrowned to remove the damage. You should also check the barrel channel at the threaded end of the ramrod. There will often be an accumulation of crud there which causes the head of the ramrod to stand proud of the muzzle.

 

[danielking1775]

I wouldn't be surprised if the barrel got dinged at some point and it was recrowned to remove the damage. You should also check the barrel channel at the threaded end of the ramrod. There will often be an accumulation of crud there which causes the head of the ramrod to stand proud of the muzzle.

it's certainly a tad short but I'm starting to think maybe a confederate rebuild with the barrel band the way it is.

 

[johan_steele]

it's certainly a tad short but I'm starting to think maybe a confederate rebuild with the barrel band the way it is.

I am tempted to agree with Don Dixon on the .25" length of the barrel. I have an M1855 RM put together in about 1980 from disassociated parts with a band similar to yours. To be honest I see nothing that would suggest CS work. I see a well used young lady that could use a new home.

In short if you opt not to pull the trigger on her let me know where she is and I might. An 1861 dated Springfield is highly desirable and would go a ways towards completing my own collection.

 

[danielking1775]

I am tempted to agree with Don Dixon on the .25" length of the barrel. I have an M1855 RM put together in about 1980 from disassociated parts with a band similar to yours. To be honest I see nothing that would suggest CS work. I see a well used young lady that could use a new home.

In short if you opt not to pull the trigger on her let me know where she is and I might. An 1861 dated Springfield is highly desirable and would go a ways towards completing my own collection.

What do you think the story is on being short? Were any re crowned during the war?

 

[James Brenner]

They were certainly shortened and crowned. I have a M1816 conversion that Miles Greenwood shortened by two inches. The rear sight identifies it as his work. Not only did he lop off two inches from the muzzle, he also re-mortised and inletted the stock to accommodate the front barrel band and keeper. He recrowned the muzzle in the process of rifling the barrel.

My interpretation is that, early in the war when muskets were at a premium, any weapon that could be salvaged was repaired and re-issued. In Greenwood's case, he set up a satellite operation in Louisville, complete with the necessary tooling and mechanics to do just that.

 

[James Brenner]

And the rammer was shortened as well.

 

[danielking1775]

And the rammer was shortened as well.

Correct, the rammer on this one is full length.

 

[danielking1775]

Remeasured its 40"!!!

 

[Joe Whitworth]

Remeasured its 40"!!!

Congratulations. Now clean out the ramrod hole.

 

[Old Soldier]

It may even have been some bad rust and pitting on the muzzle. I have a private purchase Martini-Henry with a barrel shortened by 1". Never knew until i de-rusted the muzzle and found the old foresight base! No indication why. It is not something you look for.

Just out of interest - I got a cheap Canadian Lancaster carbine - oval bore and usually costing THOUSANDS. It SAID it was 20-bore (highly unusual bore - 577 is usually smoothbored to 22-bore) Now oval bore looks smoothbore looking down from the muzzle, but when I was cleaning the barrel , after the first 5" the cleaning rod got tighter and started to turn! IOW - the top had been cleared of rust and widened.

 

[johan_steele]

What do you think the story is on being short? Were any re crowned during the war?

She's had more that 150 years to be messed with. We will likely never know.

 

[Old Soldier]

With these old guns - Some you win. Some you lose. Some, you don't really know if you have won or lost - or even whether you broke even.