Questions on bulding an 1861 (long)

[Pat S]

I'm a complete newbie to muzzle loading. In fact, I have only ever shot one once and that was probably 15-20 years ago. However I am very interested in this area and want to learn more.

BACKGROUND INFO
In the past few years I have restored a few CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program) M1-Garands and a Mauser K98, both to WW-II specs. To me the best thing about these rifles is restoring them to their wartime configurations, learning about the history surrounding them, and firing them.
So to quench my thirst for knowledge I have been looking at different possibilities. I've decided that Springfield 1861 probably best fits my collection since it was a military used weapon with significant historical impact.
My priorities order when putting one together is as follows:
1. DIY (I'd like to build/restore the piece myself rather than buy a pre-made.)
2. Shootability (not a real word but it's a rifle I plan to take out and shoot, needs some accuracy, must be safe, I may even take up hunting again someday with it...)
3. Authenticity/Historical (Since the historical aspect is important, I want something accurate to the day, I'd prefer something that looks 140 years old rather than something that just came off the assembly line.)
Cost falls in there on everything. I'd like to keep the cost down as much as possible.

PLAN
To meet these goals I'd like to build it using a mix of new and used parts. In order to make a good shooter, I'm thinking I should use a new stock and barrel. I know how to distress and finish the stock to give an aged used look, not sure what I'll do on the barrel, but I'll figure that out. All the other parts I'd like to source as good condition authentic used parts, unless of course they are far too expensive.

HELP
Anyone else done something like this? Any good books, guides, etc on authenticity or history of the 1861? Any flaws in my plan? Any good places to source the used but serviceable parts? Source for a nice accurate repro barrel/stock?

Thanks,
Pat

 

[Liver eatin’ Johnson]

Sounds like an interesting project - mixing old and new. The price of original componants might be prohibitive if you are talking everthing other than the stock and barrel. Then there is the challenge of getting the correct dated componants to match the rest of the gun since parts were often made differently. If I were doing that I might consider getting a good finished replica and defarbing it to look original. That way you know it will be authentic and you can do all the ageing you want to it without destroying the functionality and value. :m2c:

 

[Pat S]

Good points. It would also probably be cheaper to go that route and I could slowly collect all the right parts and then transition it over at a later date if I wanted.

Thanks,
Pat

 

[robinghewitt]

Surely the world is full of CW muskets that were taken home, smoothed out and sawn back to halfstock for shotguns. There's no shortage of converted Enfields over here, could be a cheap way to get most of the parts.
:m2c:

 

What do you mean by "transition it over"?

M-1 and Mausers are relitively easy to locate since they were made by the millions and dumped on the surplus market relitively reciently. Try finding an origional condition Krag!

I envy the availability of Enfields in Britian. There is a dreadful shortage of origional guns in the U.S. Most were scarfed up during our centenial of the Civil War and placed in private collections, never to be fired again. This is why Navy Arms, Pedersoli and others can make a fortune on repros over here.

I would recommend that you begin your quest with a Springfield 1873 trapdoor. There are actually still some parts out there and you will have a cartridge shooter that you are more familiar with. Comercial ammo is also available.

Dixie Gun Works still had some actions, back in the 90s, and Nmerich Arms has some parts also.

If you want a real project build one each of the big '73s.
'73 Springfield
'73 Colt SSA
'73 Winchester

Parts for all of them are still available.

Whatever route you take, good luck.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I have an abomination with the word "ZULU" on the lockplate that is an 1861 Springfield with a trap door conversion chambered in 12 ga. Something passed down through the family on a dare. It would make a good ****y-trap gun, as I don't think I want to be nearby when it goes off. Mean looking beaste, though.

So hows come the ancestors didn't pass along Mantons and Eggs? * sigh *

 

[Zonie]

I've seen quite a few original Civil War guns for sale but most of them were in really BAD shape.
Some of the locks were totally inoperative and the barrels were worse than useless.
Although you can get a lot of the replacement parts for the lock from Dixie, the real show stopper is the amount of money the owners think you should pay.

"This har gun was used in the Civil War friend! It's got real sweat and dirt from Vicksberg on it, don't ye know? Lookie right here. Under that dent there's a real official US stamp, at least there used to be before someone sanded it off!!
The hammer screw? Will of course they had Phillips screws back then! Didn't ye ever hear John Phillips Suza play Dixie?
She's a real shooter, friend! I wouldn't let this little honey go for less than $900 if I was starving but I'll let you have it for $600 just cause your such a nice guy!!"

You grasp my meaning.

I'm not saying your plan is a bad idea. A lot of people have (so I've read) done just what your proposing but they ended up with a LOT of money invested in it.

 

[Pat S]

Thanks for the info guys. I actually found one up for auction on-line that is partially where I want to be. It's a Dixie/Miroku kit with several original parts (Buttplate, trigger assembly/guard, and lower swivel) I figure this would be a great start to my desired project and the best part is that it was cheaper than buying the kit from Dixie.

I'm sure I'll be back with lots of newbie questions in the next few weeks

Pat

 

[Zonie]

"I'm sure I'll be back with lots of newbie questions in the next few weeks"

The gun you found sounds like a good place to start.
Feel free to ask away!