Researching 1816 Springfield conversions

[103]

I don't have original barrels to actually measure, but the 1816 through the 1828 Springfields had barrels too thin to rifle, as I recall. I know the M 1840 barrels were thick enough and I think the M 1832 as well, though don't consider that carved in stone.

If the Pedersoli barrel is on the thick side, that works in your favor, if you wish to have the barrel rifled by someone like Bobby Hoyt.

Gus

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I just wanted to add that I have an 1838 dated and Springfield stamped conversion with what appears to be a factory rifling job. At some point the gun was cut down to just two bands, but it appears to be the early style Belgian conversion with rifled barrel. I have never shot anything but blanks out of it.

 

[Ontario47]

The Dovetail on many of these period rear sights were not the "drift" to install but were the usual undercut on the rear edge and a perpendicular cut on the front edge. You hooked the rear wedge under the lip on the barrel and tipped the front square edge into place and secured the sight in place with the screw (with two holes, no slot) the rear barrel lip was then lightly peened to tighten up the 1/2 dovetail. I would suggest a machinist mill the 1/2 dovetail and drill and tap the shallow screw hole (often with non standard threads} .

 

[gemmer]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I just wanted to add that I have an 1838 dated and Springfield stamped conversion with what appears to be a factory rifling job. At some point the gun was cut down to just two bands, but it appears to be the early style Belgian conversion with rifled barrel. I have never shot anything but blanks out of it.

Smart move shooting blanks only.