Springfield 1861?

[Gold]

Hi
Is this a Springfield rifle 1861?
All parts are painted black.
Can I remove this paint?

 

[Jimklag]

Hi
Is this a Springfield rifle 1861?
All parts are painted black.
Can I remove this paint?View attachment 164511 View attachment 164511 View attachment 164512 View attachment 164513 View attachment 164514 View attachment 164515 View attachment 164516 View attachment 164517 View attachment 164518 View attachment 164519

Howdy, Gold. Welcome to CWT. Come visit the Railroads and Steam Locomotives forum.

 

[johan_steele]

Yes that is an M1861.

 

[MC44]

wonder who painted it black? I am guessing it was not Mick Jagger....
But seriously, anyone hear of soldiers doing that to prevent glare giving away their position? I can see it being done in the trenches of Petersburg. Question is, would the officers have allowed it? I know early on they liked shiny metal parts.

 

[James N.]

Welcome to the forums, Gold - It looks to me like this was done to make this a "display" rifle or "wall hanger" and the warped idea was that this way it wouldn't rust. What worries me is the way the ramrod seems to be STUCK in the barrel! Can it be extracted by pulling it out? From the length sticking out, I'd almost guess it *might* still be LOADED - for some reason, a number of old rifles seem to have been loaded, possibly as "home defense" guns, and basically forgotten about over the years. For that reason, I'd advise care until you can remover the rammer and determine whether or not it IS.

Because of possible damage to the wood, I wouldn't attempt to remove the paint from it until after disassembling it. And use ONLY mild chemical paint removers - NO wire wheels, metal scrapers, or ANYTHING that will scratch the metal! NO Naval Jelly either. There will probably be manufacturer's and inspectors markings on the lockplate and top of the barrel under the paint, so be especially careful there not to damage them. Anything done should be with a great deal of caution - don't get excited or impatient!

 

[ikesdad]

I'm thinking civilian post war simply because it was burnished with no finish. And just maybe, it has kept the rust to a minimum.

 

[Noonanda]

Welcome to the forums, Gold - It looks to me like this was done to make this a "display" rifle or "wall hanger" and the warped idea was that this way it wouldn't rust. What worries me is the way the ramrod seems to be STUCK in the barrel! Can it be extracted by pulling it out? From the length sticking out, I'd almost guess it *might* still be LOADED - for some reason, a number of old rifles seem to have been loaded, possibly as "home defense" guns, and basically forgotten about over the years. For that reason, I'd advise care until you can remover the rammer and determine whether or not it IS.

Because of possible damage to the wood, I wouldn't attempt to remove the paint from it until after disassembling it. And use ONLY mild chemical paint removers - NO wire wheels, metal scrapers, or ANYTHING that will scratch the metal! NO Naval Jelly either. There will probably be manufacturer's and inspectors markings on the lockplate and top of the barrel under the paint, so be especially careful there not to damage them. Anything done should be with a great deal of caution - don't get excited or impatient!

If you look at the side view pictures, its not in the barrel

 

[James N.]

If you look at the side view pictures, its not in the barrel

I guess its STUCK in the ramrod channel instead; that's GOOD of course - it should be easier to get out from there! (And I'd still want to check to make sure it's not LOADED.)

 

[johan_steele]

It would have been painted post wAr for some reason or another.

 

[Gold]

Welcome to the forums, Gold - It looks to me like this was done to make this a "display" rifle or "wall hanger" and the warped idea was that this way it wouldn't rust. What worries me is the way the ramrod seems to be STUCK in the barrel! Can it be extracted by pulling it out? From the length sticking out, I'd almost guess it *might* still be LOADED - for some reason, a number of old rifles seem to have been loaded, possibly as "home defense" guns, and basically forgotten about over the years. For that reason, I'd advise care until you can remover the rammer and determine whether or not it IS.

Because of possible damage to the wood, I wouldn't attempt to remove the paint from it until after disassembling it. And use ONLY mild chemical paint removers - NO wire wheels, metal scrapers, or ANYTHING that will scratch the metal! NO Naval Jelly either. There will probably be manufacturer's and inspectors markings on the lockplate and top of the barrel under the paint, so be especially careful there not to damage them. Anything done should be with a great deal of caution - don't get excited or impatient!

Thx James,yes it was a wall hanger just like you thought.It hangs by a farmers house in the kitchen for 2 generations.
They move and were now longer intrested any more .But i do .The ramrod sits in his place onder the gun barrel and can be perfect remove. The picture is maybay not clear .Trigger mechanism is also faulty.How do I disassemble this rifle?Or is this not possible after all these years.What is the value of such a gun ?

 

[originalrebelyell]

I have heard people say they used acetone to get paint of gun metal without harming any finish that might be under the paint. But you need metal off of the wood first.

 

[James N.]

Thx James,yes it was a wall hanger just like you thought.It hangs by a farmers house in the kitchen for 2 generations.
They move and were now longer intrested any more .But i do .The ramrod sits in his place onder the gun barrel and can be perfect remove. The picture is maybay not clear .Trigger mechanism is also faulty.How do I disassemble this rifle?Or is this not possible after all these years.What is the value of such a gun ?

@johan_steele has a better idea of current value than I do, but even in this condition it's worth several hundred dollars. Probably it's best left in this condition if you want to sell it, but PROPERLY restored it could bring quite a bit, assuming the marks, etc. are still in reasonably good condition.

 

[ikesdad]

Because of possible damage to the wood, I wouldn't attempt to remove the paint from it until after disassembling it. And use ONLY mild chemical paint removers - NO wire wheels, metal scrapers, or ANYTHING that will scratch the metal! NO Naval Jelly either. There will probably be manufacturer's and inspectors markings on the lockplate and top of the barrel under the paint, so be especially careful there not to damage them. Anything done should be with a great deal of caution - don't get excited or impatient!

What he sez.

 

[mofederal]

A very nice 61. I like the look of it. I can believe someone would paint it. I have seen it done before on a newer rifle, an 1886 Winchester. It shouldn't be too hard to disassemble the rifle. just be careful as James said, it could still be loaded.

 

[tbuckley]

Several years ago, an old gentleman told me he had his grandfather's musket and that the musket, with the fixed bayonet, had been painted black. The gentleman had the paint removed, He showed me a photo of his grandfather with the painted M1816 conversion taken about 1910. The musket had been acquired by the veteran for G.A.R. parades and functions.
My guess is that the black paint was for the G.A.R. for parades.

 

[Gold]

How can I be sure that the gun is no longer loaded?

 

[Gold]

Several years ago, an old gentleman told me he had his grandfather's musket and that the musket, with the fixed bayonet, had been painted black. The gentleman had the paint removed, He showed me a photo of his grandfather with the painted M1816 conversion taken about 1910. The musket had been acquired by the veteran for G.A.R. parades and functions.
My guess is that the black paint was for the G.A.R. for parades.

What is the meaning "G.A.R. parades and functions"

 

[tbuckley]

What is the meaning "G.A.R. parades and functions"

Grand Army of the Republic, a Union veteran's organization.

 

[1867crete]

I guess its STUCK in the ramrod channel instead; that's GOOD of course - it should be easier to get out from there! (And I'd still want to check to make sure it's not LOADED.)

Had a friend with a original rifle and the ramrod sat up about 4 inch's in the barrel..... so we wormed it out and got a charge of shot out! Must have been loaded as a scatter gun by the back doorstep. A good reminder treat all guns as LOADED no matter there age who owns them etc........ until you know it's not loaded. Great Springfield!!! I would jump on it in a second.

 

[tbuckley]

Should have added, G.A.R. for Memorial Day parades and other occasions.