1803 Harper's Ferry Rifle

[Mongo]

Article from the April/May 2000 edition of "Muzzleloader". Took two years to be published. I have some additional information, and some corrections to the article. For instance, Larry Janoff's rifle is not s/n 14, it's a three digit s/n (14X); photos showing the discrepancy were supplied by Michael Carrick a few years ago.
Serial number 15 was discussed with Jess Melot prior to going to print, but that was back in 1998 and I referenced his M1803 drawing, which detailed s/n 15 and 94. Regardless, info on the air rifle is not correct; the individual who claims that he owns the rifle used on the expedition has made some rather bizarre claims in the past, and that at least two or more such rifles he owns (which all differed) were used on the expedition. There is tons of info on the contract long rifles, I may transcribe those papers and submit an article for future publication.
I had a previous article which touched on the short rifles, portable soup, tinned cannisters, iron frame boat, etc., in a 1998 edition of "On The Trail" magazine.

 

[Einsiedler]

Thanks very much for posting that article, Mongo!

 

[Artificer]

Article from the April/May 2000 edition of "Muzzleloader". Took two years to be published. I have some additional information, and some corrections to the article. For instance, Larry Janoff's rifle is not s/n 14, it's a three digit s/n (14X); photos showing the discrepancy were supplied by Michael Carrick a few years ago.
Serial number 15 was discussed with Jess Melot prior to going to print, but that was back in 1998 and I referenced his M1803 drawing, which detailed s/n 15 and 94. Regardless, info on the air rifle is not correct; the individual who claims that he owns the rifle used on the expedition has made some rather bizarre claims in the past, and that at least two or more such rifles he owns (which all differed) were used on the expedition. There is tons of info on the contract long rifles, I may transcribe those papers and submit an article for future publication.
I had a previous article which touched on the short rifles, portable soup, tinned cannisters, iron frame boat, etc., in a 1998 edition of "On The Trail" magazine.

Mongo,

Does your research and investigation of the original rifles show a smaller pistol sized lock or regular size rifle lock on the early rifles?

Gus

 

[FlinterNick]

Heres my rifle shoppe early 1803 gus.

when i purchased the kit jess melot had said the 1815 version with a 36 barrel had the larger common rifle lock, some were even made with the 1814 derringer lock.

this auctioned off 1815 version has a Slightly longer more narrow lock plate.

https://www.rockislandauction.com/d...d-harpers-ferry-us-model-1803-flintlock-rifle

 

[Mongo]

Here's a better photo of the purported (fake) "Model 1800" rifle (bottom)-

 

[Mongo]

A 2006 archaeological excavation at Traveler's Rest recovered some round ball artifacts. They did not make any specific claims that the artifacts were from the L&C era, however carbon dating of charcoal, wood, bone fragements, etc., from the same layer put it in the time frame (plus or minus a few decades).

Artifact 1 included a flattened ball weighing 210 grains (.480 ounce). A half ounce ball was the type specified for the Short rifle.
By way of comparison, a .520" diameter pure lead ball weighs 212 grains.
A .530" lead ball weighs 223.49 grains.

Artifact 2 was a large diameter round ball of 423.46 grains (.97 ounce). A one ounce ball was specified for the Charleville pattern musket (Model 1795).
In comparison, a .648" ball weighs 410 grains.
A .662" ball weighs 437 grains.
A .680" ball weighs 473 grains.

 

[ohio ramrod]

I found it interesting that for the 200th anniversary of the corp of discovery two different companies made limited edition reproductions of their rifles. One made 1803 Harper's Ferry rifles. The other made contract rifles fitted with 1803 locks. I am sure that both companies did serious research on the rifles before investing in their products. Yet they came to two different conclusions!