Variations on the Springfield - Looking For Information/Photos/Originals

thomas.emard

Cadet
Joined
Sep 1, 2017
I recently came across an 1847 Springfield Artillery musketoon, and it started a thread of curiousity. Just how many variations on the classic Springfield line of muskets are there? Were there flintlock carbines for example, such as the 1777 French Land Pattern?


The ones I know of:


-1816 Springfield
-1840 Springfield
-1842 Springfield
-1847 Springfield Cavalry Carbine
-1847 Springfield Artillery Carbine
-1861 Springfield
-1863 Springfield Mk's I and II
-I've heard reference to something call the "Springfield 1863, Model 1870" and I'd be very interested to know more about this one!



Interested to see what commentary this produces!
 
At the Springfield Armory I got a nice poster with the rifles manufactured there from 1800 to 1910. There are many variations that do not show up on that poster/chart. What was eye opening while I was there were all the Contract Rifles made by companies, mainly in New England, during the ACW.
 
image-jpg.64127.jpg


From what I recall these were some of the Contract 1863 Sprinfields made during the ACW
 
I recently came across an 1847 Springfield Artillery musketoon, and it started a thread of curiousity. Just how many variations on the classic Springfield line of muskets are there? Were there flintlock carbines for example, such as the 1777 French Land Pattern?


The ones I know of:


-1816 Springfield
-1840 Springfield
-1842 Springfield
-1847 Springfield Cavalry Carbine
-1847 Springfield Artillery Carbine
-1861 Springfield
-1863 Springfield Mk's I and II
-I've heard reference to something call the "Springfield 1863, Model 1870" and I'd be very interested to know more about this one!



Interested to see what commentary this produces!

These arms would be better described as US Model XXXX musket, rifle, carbine, musketoon, rifle-musket, etc. A substantial portion of the pattern guns of the models you listed were actually produced at Harpers Ferry. Additionally, substantial numbers of all of the listed arms were produced by private contractors (excepting the 1847 and 1855 models).

As for arms expressly produced at the Springfield Armory:

Model 1795 musket
Model 1807 Indian carbine
Model 1812 musket (standard model of 1815)
Model 1816 musket (M1816 type 1)
Model 1817 artillery/cadet musket
Model 1822 musket (M1816 type 2)
Model 1828 musket (M1816 type 3)
Model 1830 cadet musket
Model 1840 musket (sometimes erroneously referred to as a M1835 or M1835/40)
Model 1841 cadet musket
Model 1842 musket
Model 1847 cavalry musketoon
Model 1847 artillery musketoon
Model 1847 sappers and miners musketoon
Model 1851 cadet musket
Model 1855 carbine
Model 1855 rifle-musket
Model 1855 pistol-carbine
Model 1858 cadet rifle-musket
Model 1861 rifle-musket
Model 1863 rifle-musket (M1863 type 1)
Model 1864 rifle-musket (M1863 type 2)

The "Springfield 1863, Model 1870" you mention must be some sort of Allin conversion or trapdoor rifle made with recycled components from M1863 rifle-muskets.

There are a variety of other US Model rifles and muskets that don't appear on the list shown here as they were not manufactured at the Springfield Arsenal. The second national arsenal at Harpers Ferry produced a number of different rifles not included, and a number of private armories produced both rifles and muskets not shown.

Hope that clears some things up for you,
Garrett
 
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