Help ID this old US Springfield Rifle

[drum13]

Can anybody help to ID this rifle?
It belonged to my Grandfather.
Thanks for the help.

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[DV]

Look and see if the bore is rifled and try matching with some photos and dimensions here: Springfield musket - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It looks like your barrel might have been shortened, that might made finding the exact model a little harder.

 

[drum13]

Great... Thanks very much.

Tough to tell if the bore is rifled, maybe like three wide shallow grooves???

The ramrod does stick out a little far so you might be right about the barrel being shortened.

 

[pmclaine]

US Model of 1861. Federal issue during Civil War, Northern War of Agression, that Recent Unpleasantness. Rifled musket.

Man we used to build nice stuff. Look at the federal shield detail on the hammer.

 

[pmclaine]

Its missing the cap nipple. Parts probably available at Dixie Gun Works.

Anyone in the family fight in the War between the States?

 

[drum13]

I can vaguely see the last digits behind the hammer "---4". Thinking it's an 1864?
http://imageshack.us/a/img51/6380/emf9.jpg
Can't get the pictures to post here so I added image shack links if you're interested.

The front sight does flip up. The ramrod might go in further but I didn't want to force it.

We cleaned out my grandparents house to move grandmother into assisted living and found it. She had already gave away the Revolutionary muskets including one from the Lexington Minute Men Militia!! He grew up in Lexington, MA.

This was all that was left. He's passed almost 10 years ago so can't get any details, but there is extensive military history on both sides of the family. This is about all I got left from him.

I appreciate your reply!


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[pmclaine]

We cleaned out my grandparents house to move grandmother into assisted living and found it. She had already gave away the Revolutionary muskets including one from the Lexington Minute Men Militia!! He grew up in Lexington, MA.

A fellow MassHole! On the morning of April 15, 2013 I climbed a tree on the Lexington Green and watchred the re-enactment. It was cold! On April 19 of that week there was a 2A rally scheduled for the Lexingtin Green but that was cancelled due to the unpleasantness in Watertown.

I live in Menotomy (now Arlington). What those towns once were and believed in is worlds away from where they are now.

Do a Google seach for Springfield Model of 1861. I think that is what you have. I cant remember if it has three barrel bands or two. Yours may possibly have been cut down. I dont think the value on them is ridiculously high but it is great history take good care of it. Some pure boiled linseed oil (not a linseed "finish" look for pure natural oil) will clean the stock up nicely. Check with others on restoring the metal. They were originaly finished in the white and properly cared for gleamed in the sun. Personally Id only oil the stock and leave the patina on the metal.

 

[1911fan]

Personally Id only oil the stock and leave the patina on the metal.

Especially true to maintain collector value.


1911fan

 

[classicshooter]

I had a friend with a similar question about a rifle he had a couple years ago. He contacted this guy and quickly got some answers. Maybe try him out.

Trapdoors Galore Guns, Parts & Accessories

 

[drum13]

A fellow MassHole! On the morning of April 15, 2013 I climbed a tree on the Lexington Green and watchred the re-enactment. It was cold! On April 19 of that week there was a 2A rally scheduled for the Lexingtin Green but that was cancelled due to the unpleasantness in Watertown.

I live in Menotomy (now Arlington). What those towns once were and believed in is worlds away from where they are now.

Do a Google seach for Springfield Model of 1861. I think that is what you have. I cant remember if it has three barrel bands or two. Yours may possibly have been cut down. I dont think the value on them is ridiculously high but it is great history take good care of it. Some pure boiled linseed oil (not a linseed "finish" look for pure natural oil) will clean the stock up nicely. Check with others on restoring the metal. They were originaly finished in the white and properly cared for gleamed in the sun. Personally Id only oil the stock and leave the patina on the metal.

Yes, a fellow Masshole in Taxachusetts !

My grandfather took me to that reenactment when I was 4 years old back in the early 70's. Man... I had NO idea what I was in for, and I'll never forget it. He woke me up at 0430, it was still dark and he said "Get up, the British are coming...".

On the drive to the Battle Green I remember seeing all the Redcoats gathering for the march. A sea of soldiers. It was much bigger of a production back then with many more actors involved. What a huge impact that had on me being that young. By the time the British made their approach down Mass Ave toward the common the sun was rising and clearly remember the early morning sunshine glinting off the hundreds of British bayonets as the troops marched. Can still hear the rhythm of the stomping boots and the time of the drums gradually getting louder and louder as they marched closer.

The percussive feeling of the guns rocked your whole body, smell of the gun powder in the cold morning air, the marching drums could be felt in your chest, the troops yelling, Captain Parkers blue uniform - as he was one of the few properly outfitted soldiers in that militia. There was a huge cloud of gunsmoke when the shooting stopped. The British regrouped into perfectly strict formation and marched right on through the wafting gunsmoke, nearly marching right over the dead Minutemen while their wives came running out of their homes crying and attending to their dead and wounded men. Life changing experience for a 4-year old kid.

It was very patriotic growing up there to say the least and I couldn't agree with you more that it is a very different world now - even in the past 30 years things have changed so fast and drastically...not for the better.

Ironically, in April of 1775 the British were marching to Concord to eliminate a large militia weapons and ammo cache. This is why very smart men made sure the 2A rights were enacted and granted. Now the new leaders aren't as smart and seem to have forgot this vital story in this country's history. The Battle at Lexington Green should be Chapter 1 of textbook US History.

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Moving on.... thanks again for the info. Do you think some light steel wool to the barrel would be ok? It's getting rusty. I'd like to put a light coat of oil as well but don't want to do a disservice. The wood on the stock is actually in great shape.

 

[303_enfield]

1861 Cadet Rifle, now it could be made by Springfield or a Bannerman special. Anyway it's worth more then a Bubba cut down. Keep it in the family and look up the Springfield Collectors AS.

 

[pmclaine]

Concord has banned bottled water and narrowly voted down requiring a leash law for house cats. Arlington (formerly Menotomy - home of Samuel Whittemore - Google his fight on April 19, 1775) has banned leaf blowers. I think that says enough about the state of freedom affairs round here now a days. Your Gramps sounds like he was quite a guy.

Regards your question about steel wool. Im not a restoration guy/collector. My opinion is using steel wool on it would be a negative. You can safely feed the wood with some linseed oil. Id try to stop further rust damage with applying just regular gun oil with nothing anymore abrasive than a cotton patch.

 

[armydog]

US Model of 1861. Federal issue during Civil War, Northern War of Aggression, that Recent Unpleasantness. Rifled musket.

Man we used to build nice stuff. Look at the federal shield detail on the hammer.

1862, looks short like an artillery mod.

 

[LngRngShtr]

Could always just call Springfield Armory Museum over in Springfield and see if you can take it in for them to look at since you are in Mass.

went there once as a kid best museum ever !