Weapons identification help

[JackADriscoll]

Greetings from South Carolina,

I have been a Civil War buff and collector for a long time. I was at an auction today and saw this musket come up as an 1842 Springfield. I knew it was not that but what I did not know is what it actually is and I was hoping you experts could help me out with it. It is smooth bore, it has only one place for a sling instead of the usual two. It is devoid of most markings except for the US and the Eagle and the Springfield 1842. There is also an LC engraved just in front of the trigger guard. It has about a 28 to a 29 inch barrel. It was not overly expensive and I probably will not have the chance to own anything like it again. If anyone has a guess about what it is I would be thrilled to find out.

Warmest regards,

 

[Patrick H]

I am the farthest thing from an expert you will ever hope to meet, but I think that lock has been converted with a new hammer. Looks to me like it once had a drum and nipple on the side of whatever barrel it was originally pair with.

 

[Seduzal]

Welcome to CWT from the Smoky Mountain side of North Carolina. Sorry I can't help you but just wait a little while and someone will be along! @ucvrelics

 

[tbuckley]

Welcome from eastern Ohio. It appears to be a cone-in-barrel conversion of a M1816 musket. At some point it was shortened, a rear sight added, and a nose cap from a later rifle musket added. Hopefully, some of our experts will know if it was shortened and modified during the war or possibly later. A very interesting musket.

 

[zburkett]

Nice musket. Congratulations. The smooth bore musket was used for over a century by both the military and civilians. If that is a an 1816 it started life as a flint lock and was arsenal converted but there are many types of conversions. That could have been shortened for a Militia Dragoon unit or any other group that needed a shorter rifle. Early in the war, anything serviceable was pressed into service. In any case it should really be fun tracking down information on you gun. Please keep us informed on what you learn.

 

[Larryh86GT]

Welcome from WNY. Nice purchase.

 

[captaindrew]

Welcome from South Florida and the Reenactors Forum.

 

[Cpl. Smith]

Interesting find!

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy

 

[JackADriscoll]

Thanks for the warm welcome anyone. I have been doing as much as I can find for these things. Its either an after war thing. Or its some kind of weird cavalry shortened thing because they were so short on arms of that type. I am leaning towards the cavalry/dragoon conversion but who can ever tell. Should I take it apart and clean it with a gentle hand and some 0000 wool being extra careful or just leave it as is?

 

[Package4]

Thanks for the warm welcome anyone. I have been doing as much as I can find for these things. Its either an after war thing. Or its some kind of weird cavalry shortened thing because they were so short on arms of that type. I am leaning towards the cavalry/dragoon conversion but who can ever tell. Should I take it apart and clean it with a gentle hand and some 0000 wool being extra careful or just leave it as is?

Leave it as is, you can take the surface rust off the lockplate with a rag and WD40. This is most likely a post war cut down piece for duck or fowl hunting. Most shortened war date pieces were done by an armory or gunsmith and this does not show evidence of either. Very nice most likely early war used piece!

 

[zburkett]

First, Package4 knows a lot more than I do, but on the occasion I'm not sure I agree with him. Your musket seem like an early unit, professional conversion to me, but I may just be whistling "Dixie." I do agree that unless you want to shoot it don't take it apart. In the century and a half it has ben around no telling what has happened to it.

 

[JackADriscoll]

So after some serious elbow grease I was able to see some letters come through the metal on the barrel opposite the hammer. it appears to say S.M. CO

 

[Package4]

First, Package4 knows a lot more than I do, but on the occasion I'm not sure I agree with him. Your musket seem like an early unit, professional conversion to me, but I may just be whistling "Dixie." I do agree that unless you want to shoot it don't take it apart. In the century and a half it has ben around no telling what has happened to it.

The conversion to percussion was professionally done, but I am referring to the later cut-down, which shows a very amateurish bent "pun intended". The nose cap doesn't fit well at all and as such it bends the ramrod, the second or middle band is floating and would soon be lost if in the field.

I have no doubt that this piece saw service in the ACW, but at full length, later cut down to be used as a fowler, IMHO.

 

[UCVRelics]

Welcome From The Heart Of Dixie. It does apperar to be a post war cutdown but when the conversion to precussion was done is anybodies guess. Thanks For Sharing and Keep On Collecting.

 

[Saint Jude]

Welcome from Oregon!