1842 Springfield Musket

[Calbeekeeper]

Am totally new here so if I step on toes please let me know.
I have received a 1842 Springfield Musket from my SIL to see if I can restore ( not rebuild) it.
I am not a gunsmith (licenced) but have been restoring and building antique rifles for 40 or more years.
During that time I have learned some hard leasons and want to start this one right.
I am looking for breakdown data on this old musket.
Particularly am interested in the breach plug and removing it.
There seems to be an obstruction of some sort in the barrel ( as well as being bent near the muzzle) that I want to take care of before doing anything else.
There is no history of its past that I have been able to find so am leary of whatever it is in the bore.

Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading this

Jim
AKA: Calbeekeeper

[Francis J. Miller Jr, 02601]

Jim,

It could possibly have a loaded charge in it so be careful. You can check by taking the ramrod, and from the outside of the barrel line up the tulip or belled end of the ramrod with the back of the barrel, you'll see a fine line where the breech plug meets the barrel and see how much of the ramrod goes past the muzzle of the barrel, it should be very little. Then insert the ramrod down the barrel all the way to the breech until it bottoms out, and it should only have a little of the ramrod sticking out, close to where it was when lining it up from the outside, it is most likely unloaded. But, if it sticks out about an inch or more, it's a good possibility it has a charge in it.

To play safe remove the cone (nipple) and saturate the opening with oil to foul and render the powder useless. Then you can take the barrel bands off and unscrew the tang screw and remove the barrel from the stock. Place the barrel in a vise with wood or brass sheeting to protect the barrel and remove the breech plug. Hope this helps your situation.

You may get slow responses this week because majority of members will be at the N-SSA Spring National in Winchester, VA. this week from Wednesday til Sunday.

Sincerely,

[Calbeekeeper]

Thanks for the info!
Was able to saturate the load from the muzzle with transmission fluid .
Nipple was non existant and what was left had a lot of chanellock marks
Found the flash hole rusted solid and carefully drilled it out.
125 lb air and a loud enough pop that my neighbor came out to see what I had blown up.
Did not find the ball but did find some of the powder charge.

Having never worked on a 1842 before would like to ask a couple of questions if I may?
The barrel bands and lock were so rust coated that I used an electrolis tank to remove as much as possible.
I am very familiar with a tank and only did it in baby steps.
As will sometimes happen the items came out with a (blued) blackened appearance.
It can be removed with crocus cloth and wood ash but am wondering what the original was?
If it was blackened it would help cover up some of the pitting on the bands.
The lock I have no idea as to its original look so any info or pictures would be of great value.

Thanks for reading this.


Jim
AKA: Calbeekeeper

[Muley Gil]

The barrel, barrel bands, lock, and buttplate were struck "Armory Bright"-no blueing. The front sight was brass and was part of the front band.