Perscussion Converted 1816 Springfields with rear sights??

[Stantheman86]

In my research I found numerous pics of percussion converted 1816 Springfield muskets with 1861 Springfield rear sights?

I took a pic of an IMA website ad, but Rock Island Auctions has a similar 1816 listed.

Both of them have the "Bolster" conversion and have the '61 rear sight.

Was it just that this particular contractor doing the conversion put the rear sights on too?

Would this sight even be viable? Maybe they had use with a Nessler type bullet in mind?

 

[Artificer]

.69 cal. conversions to rifled muskets came w/different rear sights depending on when they were done and by what contractor. I don't know a whole lot about all the different types of conversions, but here are some sights that were used by different contractors.

http://www.lodgewood.com/M1842-Rear-Sight-for-Rifled-Conversion_p_44.html
and:
http://www.lodgewood.com/1816-Sprin...r-Sight-Reproduction-for-Original_p_1863.html
and:
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/original-model-1855-springfield-1816-1815606573

Gus

 

[Stantheman86]

I was most interested in that all of them are listed as "smoothbore " unless the rifling is so weak now they couldn't tell....

 

[gemmer]

I was most interested in that all of them are listed as "smoothbore " unless the rifling is so weak now they couldn't tell....

A number of H&P converted 1816s received rear sights but retained smooth bores.

 

[Stantheman86]

I guess they figured , why not? Any rear sight is better than nothing, plus it will at least help point the musket.

 

[Stantheman86]

https://www.n-ssa.net/vbforum/showt...-a-reproduction-H-amp-P-1816-Conversion/page2

This is pretty much all you need to know about the Hews & Philips conversions, very interesting.

People make "Hews & Philips" repro 1816s from Pedersoli 1816 Flintlock muskets , but unless you absolutely need this for reenactor purposes it would be very costly.

I found that Lodgewood sells a repro H&P rear sight for the 1816, I'm strongly thinking of having my Smith put one on my 1816. It's a "Colt type" bolster conversion but it's a repro so I feel like I can take some "alternate history" . I just think it would be a good looking addition to the musket and make it a more enjoyable shooter.

 

[FlinterNick]

Most 1816's were converted as smoothbores, the barrels were not heavy enough to accommodate the rifling. Very few 1816's that were produced by Nipps and Whickham were rifled because the barrels were a heavier design, adding a rear sight on these done.

 

[Stantheman86]

I think its interesting that they put a sight on whether the musket was rifled or not.

They say "some rear sights were screwed on and some soldered/brazed' and some sights were backward and some regular faced. There probably wasn't a lot of stress put on any kind of uniformity , just convert them and get the rear sights on.

It seems the rear sights were desired by the Ordance dept more for cosmetics because they said "the bolster conversion with a rear sight was a more sightly conversion" plus I think ,it also made them look more "modern" so soldiers didn't feel like they were being given "old guns".

Probably to satisfy the Govt. contract , since H&P didn't do a lot of them but at one time it looks like Skirmish shooters were trying to figure out if at least 1000 smoothbore 1816's received rear sights so they could make repros and shoot them in matches.

It seems that buying a Chiappa 1842 , either rifled or smoothbore and putting that repro H&P sight on would also pretty much give you the same effect.