M 1842 Perkussion Rifle

[Charles Kaiser]

Hallo Kameraden,
another Question:
I write an Article about M 1842er Muskets for our German website
In the 1850er Ordonace Manual, the so called "Mississippi Rifle" is described as a M 1842 Smoothbore Musket Derivat. Is this a fact ? Is it by this weapon as by many other, that the "Real Name" was covered by a nickname ?

P.S. The origin of this Information is the reprint of Claud E. Fullers "Springfield Shoulder Arms 1795- 1865"

[Blair]

Re: M 1842 Perkussion Rifle

Charles,

The M-1841 Rifles are similar in many repects to the M-1842 Muskets. They are, however, two very different firearms.
The '42 Muskets have 42 inch barrels, three sets of barrel bands and have iron/steel furniture (for the most part)
The '41 Rifles have 33 inch barrels, two sets of barrel bands and have brass furniture (for the most part)
The M-1841 Rifles are most often refereed to as "Harpers Ferry Rifle" within the time period.
Tryon, Kendall Robins & Lawrence, Robins & Lawrence, Remington and Whitney do contract to manufacture this model firearm. This arm may at times be refereed to by the contractor's name as well.
It is important to note here that Springfield Armory is not involved in the production of this model firearm, hence the nick name "Harpers Ferry Rifle". These are often mis identified as being the M-1855 Rifles which were manufactured at both Springfield and Harpers Ferry.

It is suspected by some that Springfield may have produced a few (very few) "model" pieces, possibly for one or more of these contractors to use as a pattern piece in their production. But it is not know if these "pattern" pieces are marked "Springfield" on the locks.
I hope this helps.

[Blair]

Re: M 1842 Perkussion Rifle

Charles,

Springfield does manufacture 3,200 "Rifle" length variant of the standard 1842 Musket. These may be refered to in many cases as the "Fremont" Rifle. Only made at Springfield in 1847 and without the U S stamp on the lock plate.
It was not a standard U S model at the time. They seem to have been manufactured as a "special" firearm for the Fremont Expadition of 1847.
Because of their discription as being Rifled, with 33 inch barrels, they have often been mis identified as being the M-1841 Rifle.

[Blair]

Re: M 1842 Perkussion Rifle

Here is a modern modified example of a "M-1842 Percussion Rifle" as altered by Zimmerman, that is for sale on the N-SSA web site. At a very good price I might add.

http://n-ssa.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=13304

Some of the info is not quite correct and the front sight is actually an applied copied off of the M-1855 Rifle. Not actually correct for the 1842 Fremont Rifle type arms for another 8 years, but it can give one an idea how much the original style front sight needs to be raised (with the long range rear sight addition) to give one a true sight on target picture.

These "Rifles" were not originally modified from the M-1842 Musket production, but rather made up as "rifles" during the normal production runs from the standard length arms.
They are true Rifles and not Rifled Muskets.
An other words, they were not "modified/altered" Muskets. These were made as "Rifles" to be rifles, new out of the box fireams, in a manner of speaking.