1863 Springfield Forager ???

[Brad Foust]

Hi Friends,
Perhaps someone has a few answers?
I recently aquired what might be a moel 1863 Springfield Forager? If there ever realy was such a gun made officially?
It looks alot like a 63 Springfield but is a 16 Ga shotgun, barrel length of 32".
The lock is missing but I think it' a 63 cause there is no clean out hole in the breech like on a model 61, but there is a stamped eagle like on a 63.
The rest of the half stock gun is otherwise very similiar to a standard 61 or 63 Springfield musket.
My question is did they ever really make a "forager" or are these a post war product??
There is bo sign of this being an original rifle muslet barrel, such as rear site dovetail?Also, where might I fine a very used and somewhat rust lock?
thanks in advance,
Brad Foust

 

[Norinco]

After the war, many guns were sold for cheap surplus. Various dealers, such as Bannerman bought them to resell. Many were bored out to smoothbore and cut down to a shorter barrel. Government arsenals never made such a thing, so yours is a post war sporterization.

 

[Trot]

Yeah, no such thing as a forager made by Springfield. The rear sight had no dovetail, they were held on by a screw.

 

[paulvallandigham]

If the gun is in reasonable condition it has collector's value, even if its a post war modification. I have a friend who owns a Springfield Trapdoor( breech loading) gun that was bored out to smoothbore. I believe it began life as an early .50-70. Its in OKAY condition, and he would not sell it for any price. You simply don't see very many of these in collections or at gun shows.

Whether you want to actually shoot it is up to you. Think of it as a small bore gun( even in 16 gauge, and have the breech checked before firing it. Use shot loads only in these old guns. They can be fun for shooting small game, and birds. I would not recommend shooting shot loads of more than 1 oz. unless its in very good condition. And, use real black Powder in that old gun to keep the pressures down.

2 3/4 drams( 76 grains) of FFg powder is considered a "Heavy" load pushing 1 oz. of shot. MV is rated at 1028 fps. in my Hodgdon Data Manual. T$hat velocity is below the speed of sound, and should be sufficient to take game out to 25 yds. Stick with larger sized shot( #6-#5-#4) for hunting anything bigger than rabbits. #6 shot would be a good shot size to use for most game.