M1816 Rehab

[wpnsman]

Attached are photos of my M1816 Springfield made in 1823 that I brought back from the brink a couple of years ago. It was almost in relic condition with a broken stock that had previously been repaired (badly) ages ago. Considering the condition, my efforts wouldn’t do it any harm and brought it back to a useable state.

The good; the stock hadn’t been cut down and all the bands were present along with the original ram rod.

The bad; as stock as previously stated had been pretty severely broken and required a new comb to be fashioned. The lock was inoperable and required the tumbler and sear to be welded up and reshaped. The only parts needing total replacement were the nipple and buttstock screws.

Starting with the before:

More to follow,

Wpns Man

 

[user 922]

What do you mean by you "brought it back to a useable state"? You aren't planning on shooting that gun, are you?

 

[steved]

I also like doing this type of restoration. Looking forward to seeing the "during" and "after" photos along with your description of the work done.

 

[MSW]

curious to see how it will look when the project is done... this is gonna be cool!

 

[wpnsman]

Computer problems and Military deployments kept me off the forum for some time.

A couple pictures of the completed restoration

 

[wpnsman]

And yes, I have fired this. I used it at the 150th Anniversary reenactment of Manassas (Bull Run).

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Nice work and thank you got your service. God bless you :hatsoff:

 

[Pete G]

Well done, but do something about that shiny nipple.

 

[wpnsman]

Thanks,

It was a fun if not challenging project. The stock needed extensive repairs.

These pictures were taken after the restoration and before test firing. The nipple isn't shiny anymore.

 

[bpd303]

Good job on the restore, never would have thought it was the same musket.

 

[Artificer]

Good job! The work you did probably saved that gun from the trash heap had you not done it and had it remained with someone/s who had not cared for it.

Did you happen to pull the tang and check the threads and breech end of the barrel before you fired it? Just wondering if the interior of the bore was rusted as bad as the outside.

And from one Vet to Another, Thank you for your service.

Gus

 

[rickystl]

Great Job!!! Like you say, nothing to loose restoring due to original condition. Especially since the stock had not been cut back and all the original parts were there. Again, great restoration. Enjoy. Rick. :hatsoff:

 

[wpnsman]

Thanks,

and I thank you for your service also. I did pull the breech plug, threads were serviceable. The bore while "frosted" was not deeply pitted. I'll never use it for live firing, just the occasional blank during a living history. I have other muskets that I use for the majority of my reenacting. It was satisfying to use it at Manassas though, got a lot of positive comments.

 

[wpnsman]

Damage to stock

 

[wpnsman]

My repairs,

 

[wpnsman]

My repairs,

 

[wpnsman]

Finished,

 

[Artificer]

Thanks,

and I thank you for your service also. I did pull the breech plug, threads were serviceable. The bore while "frosted" was not deeply pitted. I'll never use it for live firing, just the occasional blank during a living history. I have other muskets that I use for the majority of my reenacting. It was satisfying to use it at Manassas though, got a lot of positive comments.

I commend you for pulling the breech and checking the threads as well as for only firing blank rounds from the gun!

I bet you did get a lot of positive comments at the 150th year anniversary reenactment of Manassas with that gun! That gun was much more common at the original battle than many of the guns reenactors usually carry. That is not a slight on reenactors, but most of us carry guns that came in a little later on in the war.

I was the Head Safety Inspector on the Confederate Side for the 125th year anniversary reenactment of Manassas. One Federal carried an original foreign musket that never had a half cock notch, though I sheepishly have to admit CRS has taken over and I don't remember now which musket that was. The Federal looked worried he would not pass inspection until I came up and asked him if he was an NSSA member and he said he was. The trigger pull on that musket was about 16 to 18 pounds as they all were originally. I called the other Confederate Safety Inspectors over and showed them the musket and explained there was NO half cock on those muskets and they did not need them due to the trigger pull - so if any others were carried by Federal Reenactors, they should not be rejected for that reason. Needless to say, the Federal Reenactor was immensely relieved to have had the only Confederate Safety Inspector that understood that about his original musket. I complimented him on the condition and his carrying that musket for the battle.

Looking at your before and after picks of the stock reminds me of when I shattered my Brown Bess Carbine stock when I first began doing WBTS reenacting, as I did not have a percussion gun then. I actually had to finish breaking the butt off the stock so everything would align when I bedded it back together. Of course, I did not have to replace a large chunk of the butt as you did.

That's good stock work and nicely done overall.

Gus

 

[wpnsman]

Funny story from Manassas,

We were having the safety inspection performed by the Captain of an adjacent company before taking the field on day one. As he completed his facing movement in front of me, I smartly executed Inspection Arms. Upon taking my musket he realized it was "different" and asked "Is this an original?"

To which I replied "Yes Sir!" At that point he was almost afraid to inspect it, shaking his head in amazement that I would bring such a thing unto the field. Probably thought I was a complete moron.

Word quickly got out and I spent the next two days explaining why I would propagate such heresy. The majority were aghast that I would use such a "pristine" original example at a reenactment.

I just smiled and said you should have seen it when I got it.

 

[Artificer]

Got a kick out of your story! :grin:

When we did the 125th year Reenactments, usually Confederate Officers safety inspected Federals and Federal Officers safety inspected Confederates. It usually worked out well and more information got passed around that way.

However, when I came in front of one Federal, he made a derogatory comment about the material in my frock coat. I informed him I had gone to some length to replicate the wool/cotton mix from an early war frock coat in the Museum of the Confederacy. Then I asked, "Since you are such an expert on period fabric, I suppose your coat is made from cashmere, eh?" He looked puzzled and did not reply. Then I asked, "You DO know what CASHMERE was to the Union Army Quartermasters, don't you?!" Now he looked uncomfortable and did not reply. So I added, "Well since you don't know that about the preferred fabric purchased by your own government, it meant it was 100 percent wool. Look it up in your Quartermaster's Regulations if you don't believe it." He stood there in stunned silence as I finished inspecting his weapon and complimented him on the condition and passed him. Other members of his unit laughed at him when the inspection was over. However, that was the only Federal I had any problem with.

I knew quite a few Reenactors who did the 100th Anniversary Reenactments and many of the guns then used were originals. We had one who commanded one of the Regiments in Longstreet's Corps who had been in the 100th year reenactments. There was a small number of original muskets used at the 125th year reenactments, though not nearly as many as the 100th. I bet at the 150th year reenactment, you may have been one of only a few who used an original musket. It will be a good story for you to tell to the Lads who do the 175th year reenactments!! :thumbsup:

Gus