1816 U.S. Musket (Percussion Conversion) Issuance???

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: 1816 U.S. Musket (Percussion Conversion) Issuance???

Ahhhh yes, ''Bannerman type'' was the term I was looking for...

I also see the aimed verses pointed in the general direction that a simple site could offer.

Thank you Curt.

[Minieball577]

Re: 1816 U.S. Musket (Percussion Conversion) Issuance???

were there smoothbores rifled with no rear site added? Were there smoothbores with rear adjustable sites? (I have seen simple -v- rear sites but not on any issued in America.)

There are some examples of Rifled-Muskets that have no rear sights. For instance, I have seen a Pomeroy contract 1816/22 that was later rifled, and converted to percussion by the Belgian method, that was never sighted. It is a rather rare specimen, but I have seen two to date.

Also, Hewes and Philips Contract and other "Philladelhpia Shops" percussion conversions of 1816/22 and 1835/40 Muskets were converted to percussion using a new breech (Patent) Breech section, and sighted, but the majority were never rifled. These were performed in 1862, and were sighted with 1858 and 1861 leaf sights.

There are muskets with flint mechanisms converted to precussion muskets.
There are flint-to-percussion SMOOTHBORE muskets that were then RIFLED.
There are production SMOOTHBORE percussion models, ie the US 1842.
There are production SMOOTHBORE percussion models that were RIFLED.

One of the down-falls in most discussions along this line that I have seen is miscommunication of the terminology, period and commonly accepted today.

For instance, the term MUSKET in itself implies SMOOTHBORE regardless of ignition system, otherwise we would be using the term RIFLE-Musket, or the retrofit term RIFLED-Musket, again regardless of ignition system.

Terminology aside, you are quite correct.

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: 1816 U.S. Musket (Percussion Conversion) Issuance???

One of the down-falls in most discussions along this line that I have seen is miscommunication of the terminology, period and commonly accepted today.

Thanks, got it, I do understand.
(At least I did not call'em guns...)

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: 1816 U.S. Musket (Percussion Conversion) Issuance???

Curt and Chris,

How sturdy was the system of fixing the rear sights to the barrel? I'm sure there are examples where the sights have come off.

[Minieball577]

Re: 1816 U.S. Musket (Percussion Conversion) Issuance???

Curt and Chris,

How sturdy was the system of fixing the rear sights to the barrel? I'm sure there are examples where the sights have come off.

In the case of domestic arms, they were typically dovetailed into the barrel, such as is required with the 1858/61 leaf sights, and then secured with a screw, in the same fashion as on your 1861 Springfield Rifle-Musket. It would be fairly easy for these to be removed, but would be very difficult to fill in the dovetail and screw hole.

On foreign arms, this is often not the case. For instance I have seen many 1809 Prussian "Potsdam" Rifled-Muskets that had a long range rear sight brazed to the barrell, and their normal block sights ground off, or otherwise removed. In the case of a modification like this, it would be very difficult to remove the sight, and even after it was removed, there is a discernable mark on the barrel.

Of course with everything in history, there are exceptions, and the above are not rules, just typical methods.

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: 1816 U.S. Musket (Percussion Conversion) Issuance???

...In the case of domestic arms, they were typically dovetailed into the barrel...

Thanks Chris.

William does any of this help you?

[billywebb]

Re: 1816 U.S. Musket (Percussion Conversion) Issuance???

All of these replies/discussions have been MOST helpful and I thank you all...!

[Rear Guard]

Re: 1816 U.S. Musket (Percussion Conversion) Issuance???

Some of the Pennsylvania Reserve regiments were issued .69 weapons.

I have a .69 caliber smoothbore converted from a flintlock to percussion cap that I know to be made by John Miles of Globe Mills, Pennsylvania between 1797 and 1800 and my research revealed that it was originally distributed to local Militia Companies. Mine is stamped at the breech: "5th Co. 84th Rgt Penn M". I know that some of these old muskets were used especially in the west until the supply of new weapons caught up with demand.

Jeff Lawson
Rear Guard

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: 1816 U.S. Musket (Percussion Conversion) Issuance???

Jeff,
Can you post an image?

[Sprowls]

Thomas Publications

"Is there a list of regiments somewhere, Union or Confederate, that carried the 1816? I assume issuance would have been in the early part of the war. Any information would be appreciated!"[/QUOTE]


Check out the Thomas Publications web site:

http://www.thomaspublications.com/details.asp?BID=77

They offer at least several informative books on Civil War
arms and ammunition. Specifically, "Introduction to Civil War
Small Arms" by Earl J. Coates & Dean S. Thomas, does include
a table in the book's appendix, which lists regiments and their
respective weapons. However, like the title suggests,
this is a very introductory publication, so don't expect it to be the
definitive work on Civil War arms. A real in-depth examiniation of
regimental arms will most likely require reading more serious
publications on this subject and even conducting primary or
archival research on that particular unit(s).

Chuck Sprowls