{"product_id":"original-u-s-civil-war-era-springfield-model-1835-percussion-converted-musket-by-harpers-ferry-dated-1840","title":"Original U.S. Civil War Era Springfield Model 1835 Percussion Converted Musket by Harpers Ferry - dated 1840","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal item: Only One Available. The U.S. Model 1835 Musket was a .69 caliber smoothbore flintlock, with a 42-inch barrel and an overall length of 58 inches. It replaced the previous model 1822 musket, and often is viewed as a further development of that design. It was really only an incremental change, and many differences involved how the musket was produced, rather than the actual design. The emphasis was on making some interchangeable parts, and to use more accurate manufacturing methods. This paved the way for the later model of 1842, the first U.S. musket to have fully interchangeable parts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Model 1835 was produced by the Springfield Armory, Harpers Ferry Armory, and numerous other contractors. It was eventually superseded by the model 1840 and 1842 muskets, the former of which was originally made in Flintlock, but most were converted to percussion before they made it to the field. The 1842 was only made in percussion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the 1850s, many of the Flintlock Muskets in Arsenal were converted to Percussion, which was a much more reliable and water-resistant ignition system. This involved all variants of the Model of the 1816, which helped to standardize the types of ammunition carried by the soldiers in the field. This example looks to have been returned to a state or federal arsenal some point, and had the lock converted to a percussion lock, and the breech of the barrel removed, with a breech plug with a built in cap bolster installed. This is very similar to the conversions done just before the start of the Civil War by Hewes and Phillips of Newark, NJ, and other companies. Unfortunately there is a large amount of powder burn on the breech area, as the musket saw extensive use after conversion, so any markings that were present have worn away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lock is still marked with a partial American \u003cstrong\u003e\"Federal Eagle\" \/ U.S.\u003c\/strong\u003e under of the hammer, and was produced at the \u003cem\u003eUnited States Armory and Arsenal at Harpers Ferry\u003c\/em\u003e itself, as indicated on the lock plate tail:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHARPERS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFERRY\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1840\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are no remnants of the brass flash pan and the holes in the lock are plugged, definitely indicating an arsenal or contractor level conversion. The rifle side plate is bulged, not thin as it would be on the Model 1840, which identifies this as a last year of production Model 1835, made when the new Model was already being developed, probably to use up old parts. As mentioned previously, the markings on the breech of the barrel are completely worn away due to powder burn, and there are not any cartouches visible in the stock either.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe musket has a great service used look, with a lovely matte patina on the barrel and many of the fittings from oxidation and subsequent cleaning. The hammer shows this as well, while the lock plate, made from a different alloy, shows just a bit of peppering in areas, and a nice lightly stained color, There is a lot of powder burn on the top of the cap bolster as well as on the nipple cone itself, which is also smashed down from repeated dry firing. It definitely saw extensive use after being converted to percussion, which possibly happened shortly after it was made. There is a cap bolster cleanout, but it is frozen and the slot deformed. The lock functions very well, holding correctly at half cock, and firing at full, though it requires a heavy pull due to a strong mainspring, and also travels back quite far. We checked the bore, and it was not rifled as some examples were, and still measures out to about 0.695\" at the muzzle, showing fouling and oxidation on the interior.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stock is in really nice condition, with a lovely red brown finish and the normal scuffs, dings, dents and other damage from storage. It does look like there was a partial crack through the lock area above the wrist, which was then repaired, and we cannot detect any movement at present. Both sling swivels are still present and movable, though the cleaning rod under the barrel is not correct, and has a brass tip. The original stock cartouches are unfortunately worn away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lovely service used example of an older musket converted for service in the 1850s and almost certainly used during the Civil War. Ready to research display!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1840\u003cbr\u003eCaliber: .69\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCartridge Type: Ball and Powder\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 42 Inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 57 1\/2 Inches\u003cbr\u003eAction type: Side Action Percussion Lock\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: Muzzle Loading\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHistory of the Model 1835 Musket:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe War of 1812 had revealed many weaknesses in American muskets. The Model 1812 Musket was created in an attempt to improve both the design and manufacture of the musket. The Model 1816 made further improvements, and replaced the Model 1812. The Model 1812 had borrowed heavily from the design of the French Charleville model 1777 musket, and this design was retained for the Model 1816. The Model 1816 had a 42 inch long .69 caliber smoothbore barrel, similar to the Model 1812, but had a longer lock plate, a shorter trigger guard, and a longer bayonet than the Model 1812. The Model 1816 also had a more straight lined stock. The overall length of the weapon was 58 inches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Model 1816 musket was originally produced at the Harpers Ferry and Springfield Arsenals between 1816 and 1844. Around 675,000 were made, more than any other flintlock in U.S. history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Model 1816 was originally produced as a flintlock musket. Like many flintlock muskets, many of these were later converted to percussion cap, as the percussion cap system was much more reliable and weather resistant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis model of Springfield musket was used by Texans during the Texas Revolution and by the US Army and militia during the Mexican-American War. During this conflict, the flintlock version of the Model 1816 was preferred by U.S. regular forces, due to percussion cap supply concerns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was also used during the early years of the American Civil War until around 1862.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany improvements to the Model 1816 were made, producing the Model 1822, Model 1835, Model 1840, and Model 1842. U.S. Ordnance Department referred to these as different models, but in other U.S. government documents they are referred to as a continuation of the Model 1816. Modern histories are similarly inconsistent in the nomenclature of these weapons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44603320107077,"sku":"ONJR25NOHG12","price":1095.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONJR25NOHG12.jpg?v=1770068791","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-civil-war-era-springfield-model-1835-percussion-converted-musket-by-harpers-ferry-dated-1840","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}