What is this? Springfield Marked 1846

Joined
Apr 25, 2020
Hello, just came across this rifle. Wondering if that was the manufacture date, what the rifle is called, how many were made, where it could have been made, etc. From some basic detective work in the last hour I assume it was not military used or it was reworked to use as a shotgun?

I am from New Brunswick, Canada. What would be your best guess as to how or why it made its way here?

thanks for all the help

Nathaniel

2B7681C2-6E78-4F06-81C5-8A7342C70E3C.jpeg


AB8BCE21-BF28-4674-AE7B-04BC5684B36B.jpeg


4AE52488-97F3-4F37-9522-F18AC96CEAC9.jpeg


1631EC1F-EFEB-481D-9167-5A5B7926AF93.jpeg


8C0A39DE-F048-4877-AFF6-C485DC21219A.jpeg


D872CB2B-1A56-4ACD-A56E-5408BDBB4AA9.jpeg
 
What would be your best guess as to how or why it made its way here?
I don't think there is any way to come up with a likely explanation on how it ended up there. The Canada/US border has seen extensive commerce and travel from both sides, and it wasn't until more recent years (20th Century) that firearms laws were enacted.

Considering that your gun was converted for use as a shotgun and, although some of these were used in the Civil War, they were already obsolete, I think it was probably surplus converted after the Civil War, and made its way across the border in private hands. Of course, there is always the possibility that someone brought it back from the US as a souvenir in more recent times. You will never really know.

1846 was the manufacture date, and it should be the same on the barrel breech, although I don't see that. I'm not sure the barrel is original. Are there any markings on it? The hammer looks original but the nipple is a replacement.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top