Civilian Picket Rifle

[kh54]

Thanks to a post in the classifieds by @BigSkyRambler who listed a “Scoped ‘Picket Ball’ Target Rifle” for sale recently, I now have a new interest. (Yes, I’m buying that rifle - both a Christmas gift and a retirement gift to myself - pictured below.) Thanks David! But now I have some questions and there doesn't seem to be a lot of information online. Among my questions are:

• How do these rifles perform with cylindrical bullets versus the conical “picket ball”?
• Has anyone replaced missing tools such as the false muzzle and loading tool? Have any examples to share? (I’ll have to have new tools made and some kind of pattern would be helpful.)
• Has anyone restored the optics and crosshairs of a similar antique scope?

I’d love to begin a conversation with anyone who has knowledge and/or experience with these guns, especially relating to their use in the ACW. I found this quoted on the CivilWarTalk forum:

The following, concerning the Massachusetts First Company of Sharpshooters (Andrew Sharpshooters) is from the 1862 "Massachusetts Register and Military Record". Not sure how accurate the accounts are.​

​

"This company was recruited at Lynnfield, in August Last, and left for the seat of the war, September 2nd. They were ordered to report at headquarters, Washington, with a special request from Governor Andrew that they be connected with some Massachusetts regiment in Gen. F. W. Landers Brigade.​

​

The company are all armed with telescopic rifles, varying in weight from twenty to seventy lbs. These arms were furnished by members of the company, and purchased of sharpshooters, in different parts of New England. There is no regular manufactory of these arms, but they were made by different skilled gunsmiths, to the order and pattern of the private individual, It was estimated that there were less than three hundred of these rifles in the loyal States, and but few, if any, in the rebel States.​

​

The peculiarity of this arm, independent of its weight, is the telescope attached to each rifle, from one-half to one inch in diameter, extending from near the muzzle to the stock, and is adjusted by means of a screw, passing through the stock. Two fine threads, intersecting, are stretched across the glass at the end of the telescope, by which accuracy of aim is obtained.​

​

The great weight of the barrel sustains a heavy charge of powder, and obviates the springing of the barrel or recoil of the piece. The ball is conical, and flat at the base, and is used with a greased patch. The telescope, properly adjusted, brings the object within precise range. Very great skill and judgement are required in firing at an object at a long distance, as the distance must be carefully estimated, and allowance made for the strength of the wind, which will vary considerably the direction of the projectile. The fall of the projectile - or its attraction to the earth - is great, and increases with the distance fired. It has been calculated that this fall is from four to five feet in three hundred yards. But, notwithstanding these difficulties, those experienced in the use of this arm become so expert that they are nearly sure of hitting an object the size of a man at one-half a mile distant, and an object the size of a horse at one mile. They are discharged at rest, and it requires about two minutes for an experienced person to load, aim, and fire. It is not known that this rifle has ever before been used in warfare.​

​

An opportunity to test its efficiency was offered at the skirmish at Edward's Ferry, Oct. 1st and 2nd. On the first day, a rebel colonel was shot from his horse by a private, named Hatch, at a distance of one-half mile. Several privates were killed at longer distances. On the second day, about forty of the company, protected by a Virginia rail fence, met, unaided, the advance of a regiment of the enemy. The regiment emerged from the woods distant about one-half mile, formed in a line of battle, started towards them, yelling and at the double-quick - stopping only to load. As they were forming, the sharpshooters opened fire from their little battery. At this fire, the standard bearer, and many others, fell. By the time the regiment had advanced to within 20 rods of the left flank of the company, so deadly had been the fire of these rifles, that the whole regiment turned into a ravine and fled the field. The time occupied by the regiment in this advance was about 20 minutes, and during that time the sharpshooters had fired, on an average, about 10 shots each. Three rebel standard bearers in succession, were shot down - all it has been reported, by the unerring aim of Sergeant Shattuck - when no one dared to rear the ensign again. Gen. Gorman reports seventy of the enemy killed in this skirmish; but it is believed that this falls much under the actual number. no rebel account of their loss on this day has reached us.​

​

When Gen. Landers was ordered to take command of Gen Kelley's Division, at Romney, by his special request Gen. McCleelan permitted him to take this corps with him, and they are now known as the bodyguard of that heroic general....."​

 

[sb 54 cal.]

Not the same but similar cva mountain rifle with hi-lux scope

 

[rmark]

I think your rifle used a guide bullet starter, a piston type starter that fitted over the round section of barrel at the muzzle, without a false muzzle.

Picket bullets were sort of acorn shaped and didn’t have much surface bearing on the lands and grooves, a more modern conical will probably wok better.

The book ‘The Muzzleloading Caplock Rifle’ by Ned Roberts covers that style rifle in detail.

 

[Colonial Boy]

I’d go with bullet starter, if it had a false muzzle then there would be locating pin holes in the barrel end.
As false muzzles were rifled when fitted to the barrel it is really difficult to duplicate one.
As for the scope be very careful taking it apart and number the spacers and lenses, and also the direction that the lenses are facing.
Tedious, but having seen a full length scope that someone mixed all the bits up I’d be vary wary; as far as I know that scope became an ornament.
A lot would depend on when and where your’s was made.

 

[kh54]

I think your rifle used a guide bullet starter, a piston type starter that fitted over the round section of barrel at the muzzle, without a false muzzle.

Picket bullets were sort of acorn shaped and didn’t have much surface bearing on the lands and grooves, a more modern conical will probably wok better.

Thanks for the info. I can’t find anything to tell me what a guide ball starter looks like but I have ordered Ned Roberts book and hopefully that will tell me. I am inclined to try a cylindrical conical bullet first.

As for the scope be very careful taking it apart and number the spacers and lenses, and also the direction that the lenses are facing.
Tedious, but having seen a full length scope that someone mixed all the bits up I’d be vary wary; as far as I know that scope became an ornament.

I learned my lesson on messing with optics when I took apart a telescope eyepiece once and dropped the five element lenses on the floor. I ordered a replacement an hour later. Thanks for the comments.

 

[Conquerordie]

I agree with rmark. With the muzzle turned round, it would have had a starter that put the bullet in the bore the same way every way with from what I understand, and was key to its accuracy. It would have slid over the muzzle section. It was not a false muzzle that had pins in it.
I've read that the whole Pickett bullet craze was somewhat short lived, but accuracy could be obtained. Those types of bullets have been excavated at Civil War battlefields.

 

[rmark]

Picket bullets on to row

 

[rmark]

Guide bullet starters, both pics from Ned Robert’s book

 

[kh54]

Picket bullets on to row

Thanks. BigSkyRambler’s second post for the sale of the rifle I’m buying from him also had a pic of some ACW pocket bullets.

 

[kh54]

I have searched the usual web sources but have found nothing close to the picket ball starters pictured. I’m assuming that the plunger base was concave to match the cone of the bullet. Would there have been anything special about the “muzzle” component? (Don’t know what else to call it.) Would they have been made of brass or some soft steel? I’ll first try a paper patched cylindrical bullet because I should be able to load that and shoot accurately without special tools. But later I will probably want to have a picket bullet starter made for me. Any metalworkers out there interested?

 

[Conquerordie]

It seems like I've seen them made from sheet brass, plunger I'm sure was iron or maybe steel

 

[rmark]

From the book ‘The Dan Schlegel Collection’ these look like brass

 

[kh54]

Thanks @rmark. Very helpful!

 

[rmark]

Brass with steel rod looks common