1842 Springfield 69cal question

[Booneman]

I recently got this 1842 Springfield and I wanted to know if why there is a brass piece on the lock?
Did someone convert this to flintlock then back to cap lock?
Any help would be great!

 

[Stumpkiller]

Don't know what you have there, but it is not an 1842 Springfield. They had a MUCH different percussion snail and it was not a nipple set directly in the barrel. The cock/hammer does not look original and the lock really doesn't, either. The lockplate bolt holes are also wrong. You have a cobbled up Frankenstein, I'm afraid.

I'm pretty sure it is an 1840 flintlock Springfield reworked into a percussion. But I don't know if this was an "arsenal job" or later conversion.

 

[Trot]

Not a model 1842, it is a model 1840 made in 1842. They were originally flintlock, this one as most were, was converted to percussion. This one was done with the Belgian, cone in barrel conversion, this was the most common US conversion and officially done by US armorers.

 

[tjiann]

Nice gun. Cool to own an 1840 as they were the last standard military issue flintlock muskets. I've got one with an H&P bolster conversion. Yours is an arsenal Belgian cone-in conversion as stated by Trot. How's the bore condition?

 

[Booneman]

Thanks for all the info guys!
Either way I think it’s a cool part of history and I’m happy to have it.
The bore looks fine to me.

 

[Lead Snowstorm]

Prior answers are spot on. I can only add the following details of the locks of a converted M1840 and an early M1842 for comparative purposes (my most recent acquisitions).

Converted M1840 (like yours):

M1842:

 

[Booneman]

Very cool thanks for the info lead!

 

[Lead Snowstorm]

Very cool thanks for the info lead!

No problem.

If you are comfortable disassembling it, take a look at the stock between the barrel tang and hammer, and see if there is a stamped number that matches the undersurface of the barrel and breech plug. If there is, according to Johns the musket was one of the many converted at Springfield in 1851.

 

[Booneman]

Thanks for the info!
I’ll have to take a look and see.

 

[Booneman]

Does anyone know what size caps I would need. I measured the nippe and it was 0.2” diameter

Thanks

 

[Mowich]

What you're looking for are just called Musket caps. One size for all muskets.

 

[Booneman]

Ok Great!
Thanks!

 

[maillemaker]

Naturally, you will want to verify this is unloaded before attempting to fire it.