Original 1855 Springfield information

[BerdanBraafladt]

I just obtained an 1859 Springfield or Harpers Ferry rifle that had the stock cut down but the barrel was fortunately original. This gun also has a brass patchbox on the butt, no markings at all on the barrel not even a date, and I am sure that the markings on the lock were there but I am not sure if it was a Springfield or Harpers Ferry.
My questions are
- Was this an 1859 HF version with the patch box, because most of the other originals I have seen have not had that?
- Would these have the front brass nose cap like the enfield?
-How similar are the 1855 rifles in shape and size of parts to the 1861 Springfields?
Thanks for your help,
Kevin

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Original 1855 Springfield information

Hallo!

My questions are
- Was this an 1859 HF version with the patch box, because most of the other originals I have seen have not had that?

There are major diffrences between the M1855 Rifle-musket and the M1855 Rifle.

The first 1857-1858 production rifles had brass furniture, a brass patchbox, long brass nosecap, an dlong range rear sight.
The second 1858 production replaced the long range rear sight with a short range one.
The third produciton, early 1859, went with iron furniture with color case-hardened buttplate and patchboox, blued bands and triggerguard (polished in service), but kept the long brass nosecap.
The fourth production, mid 1859, replaced the long brass nosecap with a short one.
The fifth production, late 1859-1861, replaced the brass nosecap with a short iron one.

Since you said rifle and not rifle-musket, I would just say that the rifle-musket has its evolution although it is not quite as varied. Basically, the early production had no patchbox, a long range rear sight, and a brass nosecap. The later production, 1858-1861, had an iron patchbox, short range rear sight, and an iron nosecap.

-Would these have the front brass nose cap like the enfield?

No, the Enfield brass nosecap is of a different shape than any of the two brass nosecaps used on the M1855 Rifle or Rifle-Musket.

-How similar are the 1855 rifles in shape and size of parts to the 1861 Springfields?

There was no M1861 Rifle.
The M1861 Rifle-musket is an evolution of the M1855 Rifle-musket.
James Burton recommended in November of 1860 to drop the Maynard tape priming system even though Laidley had just come out with a metallic tape to replace the paper rolls and "saved" the Maynard system. . Burton was acting on a May of 1860 recommendation to simplify the patchbox to a small circular one, modify the slits and finger spring parts, and change the door latch.
Apparently both Springfield and Harper's Ferry put a hold on production in 1861 RM awaiting these changes.

In brief, the M1861 RM is much like an M1855 RM except for:

1. A new lockplate eliminating the Maynard System and its "hump."
2. A new hammer eliminating the Maynard System notch in the hammer nose to cut the tape, and reinforcing or beefing up the nose making it thicker and stronger.
3. The elimination of the step at the rear of the sight base and exposed screw head on the post October 1858 M1855 three leaf short range rear sight recessing the screw head, and reinforcing or beefing up the "hump" where the screw goes through.
4. Eliminating the patchbox altogether.

(There were no M1855 Rifles made at Springfield, only Harper's Ferry. And, rifles have thick walled 33 inch barrels with two bands while rifle-muskets have thinner walled 40 inch barrels with three bands. Plus other differences overall.)

Curt