Unidentified Springfield ?

[albireo13]

Hi,
I have this Springfield which I acquired many years ago in a private trade for other gear.
I lost track of the previous owner and don't recall it's history. He claimed it was an original CW gun but, who knows.
I am a newbie at this stuff. Anyway, it has been hanging on the wall for years and I am curious about its history.
The stock shows some damage and previous repair work. The barrel is marked 1848 and the lockplate is marked 1852.
There are some notches in the stock and the butt plate has US marked on it. I don't see any other markings in the metal parts but,
I have not taken it apart yet to look. It appears to be a smoothbore as I have seen no signs of rifling in the barrel.

The stock at the butt-end has a name marked on it in black which to me looks like "J R Kaucher".

Any clues on this gun? Is it an 1842 Springfield smoothbore? Original or else?
It has a thin layer of rust over it. Should I clean that up?
Thx.

 

[iron bender]

Yep. You nailed it. Nice original smoothbore 42. Love the name in the stock. Very researchable. I wouldn't clean it other than knock the dust off with a rag, maybe a light pinch of oil on any active rust. Does the lock plate work correctly, half and full cock? Check the bore to see if it needs a wipe down too. Very nice old gun and thanks for posting!

 

[albireo13]

The lock plate works well, half cock and full cock. A bit stiff though but, that's fine.
There is a patch of rust on the butt plate I may try to "worry" it off but otherwise I want to do the least to it as possible.
I wonder of the notches on the stock mean anything.

What would be a good resource for researching the name? I tried briefly doing online searches with no luck awhile ago but, I didn't stick to it.

Would it make sense to take it apart and look for further markings?

Thx

 

[iron bender]

There are multiple members here who can help you with name research. You may take the lock plate off to put a couple drops of oil on interior parts. That should make it work a little smoother. If there's an active rust bloom on the butt plate, knock it down with a commercial or GI bronze/brass gun cleaning brush, wipe it off with an oily rag and leave as is.

 

[JOHN42768]

Springfield produced about 170000 from 1844-1855 along with Harpers Ferry another 100000

 

[Kyle Kalasnik]

Nice '42!

 

[gary]

There are multiple members here who can help you with name research. You may take the lock plate off to put a couple drops of oil on interior parts. That should make it work a little smoother. If there's an active rust bloom on the butt plate, knock it down with a commercial or GI bronze/brass gun cleaning brush, wipe it off with an oily rag and leave as is.

Concur with above advice. Any brass residue will come off with a patch with gun solvent on it.

 

[albireo13]

Thx for the advice. I have some brass wool on order.

 

[albireo13]

Springfield produced about 170000 from 1844-1855 along with Harpers Ferry another 100000

Wow. I didn't realize that many were made.

Any guess as to what it might be worth?
I don't plan to sell it but, am curious.

 

[albireo13]

Notches on the stock …

 

[gary]

Thx for the advice. I have some brass wool on order.

I used nickel (5 cent piece) and organic coconut oil (Costco) to remove rust off some museum guns. Moar cheaper than brass scouring pads but I've used brass scouring pads too.

 

[rob63]

The notches look to me like they are located right where you would put grasping grooves to improve your grip.

 

[Cornpone and Molasses]

The notches look to me like they are located right where you would put grasping grooves to improve your grip.

Or maybe battles the soldier survived through… we all know the other possibility.
Would love to know more about that name!

 

[albireo13]

Yeah, I am not sure I got the spelling correct on that name. The letters are a bit faint.

 

[albireo13]

I used nickel (5 cent piece) and organic coconut oil (Costco) to remove rust off some museum guns. Moar cheaper than brass scouring pads but I've used brass scouring pads too.

I guess I could use an older copper penny as well (pre 1982 IIRC)

 

[gary]

I used to use pennies, but an instructor at Trinidad State College gonne-smything school told me use a five cent piece instead. Old pennies will work, but use the Hoppe's gun solvent treated cloth to remove any copper residue.

 

[Private Joseph]

The lock plate works well, half cock and full cock. A bit stiff though but, that's fine.
There is a patch of rust on the butt plate I may try to "worry" it off but otherwise I want to do the least to it as possible.
I wonder of the notches on the stock mean anything.

What would be a good resource for researching the name? I tried briefly doing online searches with no luck awhile ago but, I didn't stick to it.

Would it make sense to take it apart and look for further markings?

Thx

Better Soldiers And Sailors site lists a Jacob Kaucher with the 152nd Ohio

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

The lock plate works well, half cock and full cock. A bit stiff though but, that's fine.
There is a patch of rust on the butt plate I may try to "worry" it off but otherwise I want to do the least to it as possible.
I wonder of the notches on the stock mean anything.

What would be a good resource for researching the name? I tried briefly doing online searches with no luck awhile ago but, I didn't stick to it.

Would it make sense to take it apart and look for further markings?

Thx

I would not take this apart.
Unlike the British Enfields, these would not have internal marks that would tell you much.
Taking old guns apart risks marring them