Results 1 to 4 of 4

Thread: 1842 Springfield Musket

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Temecula Ca
    Posts
    7
    Region:
    None

    1842 Springfield Musket

    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

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    Posts
    340
    Region:
    Middle Atlantic - New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey
    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,
    Francis J. Miller Jr. (Herb)
    Lancaster Fencibles / 79th PVI
    Middle Atlantic Region
    153-MA - 2601V
    Middle Atlantic Region Provost Marshal
    N-SSA National Provost Guard

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Temecula Ca
    Posts
    7
    Region:
    None

    1842 Musket

    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

  4. #4
    Muley Gil is offline
    Team:
    34th Battalion Virginia Cavalry
    Member
    3020V
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Southwest Virginia
    Posts
    1,676
    Region:
    New England - New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Massachusetts
    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.
    Gil Davis Tercenio
    # 3020V
    34th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry
    Great, great grandson of Cpl Elijah S Davis, Co I, 6th Alabama Inf CSA

Similar Threads

  1. Springfield USM Pattern Model 1842 Musket
    By cannonmn in forum Small Arms
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 09-08-2010, 11:07 PM
  2. FS: 1842 Springfield Musket & Bayonet, as new
    By neocelt in forum Wanted/For Sale Items
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 09-02-2010, 02:31 PM
  3. WTS 1842 Springfield Rifled Musket and Confederate Kit
    By grabenkater in forum Wanted/For Sale Items
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 05-12-2010, 09:35 AM
  4. FS-1842 Springfield
    By Jim Mulligan 7288V in forum Wanted/For Sale Items
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 07-23-2009, 12:19 PM
  5. Original 1842 Springfield Musket Lock Dtd 1852 For Sale
    By aafjack in forum Wanted/For Sale Items
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 02-11-2009, 09:49 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •