Smoothbore CW muskets

[musketshooter]

Here is a picture of three "Bannerman" CW smoothbore conversions. The top one is a '63 SN&WTC for Mass, The middle is a Springfield and the botton is an LG&Y. The top and bottom are still 20 ga and the middle has a new Numrich 12 ga barrel. The are certainly interesting pieces of the gunsmith's art of the late 19th century.

 

[musketman]

Very nice indeed...

I always was intrigued by the large curved hammer of the Springfield's...

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

These are actually very useful guns as well as being a part of our history. They make a really great shotgun. A friend just got through fixing up an abused Armisport 1842 smoothbore. He cut it down like these guns are and bobbed the barrel to 32". Then he had it reamed to .72 to clean up the bore and wound up with a nice 12 gauge shotgun. Given their heavy duty lock work, they are pretty much indestructible with a minimum of care.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

That was a common conversion and made a lot of sense as a way to get some use out of an obsolete muzzleloader and many were so reworked and sold for a few dollars back around the 1880's to early 1900's.
I've always thought that was the origin of the notion that "smooth rifles" were first rifled and later bored smooth. But those CW musket conversions were carried out properly to make a pretty fair shotgun, not at all like the smooth rifles which still have rifle type stocks with curved buttplates, long heavy barrels, rifle sights and often rather small bores. If converting to a shotgun was the purpose then, gunsmiths have long known what makes a good shotgun and it could have been done much better for little additional cost. :imo:

 

[Tumblernotch]

Okay, you've got me stumped, or else my memory and eyes are bad. I thought I knew who all the contractors for Springfield pattern muskets were, but I can't seem to recall SN & WTC. Is that what is stamped on the lock? I know that there may have been some contractors making arms for Massachusetts and other states that I'm not aware of. You've got me awful curious.

The lock on that '61 Special is in fine shape. I notice that Bannerman switched parts a bit. His shop put what appears to be a 55/61 band on that piece. Also that Numrich barrel has a 61 Special/63 cone seat instead of the '61 cone seat with a cleanout screw.

These are fine looking guns and would be a great addition to any collection and would be real fun to hunt with. I would like to know what SN & WTC is. I don't have any thing about that company in any of my books. It would be a good addition to make.
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[Tumblernotch]

Never mind. I figured out who SN & WTC is. It was right in front of me. Samuel Norris & W.T. Clement of Springfield, Mass. They contracted with the state in 1863 to make 2,000 Model 1863 (Type I) rifle muskets. In 1864 the contract was extended to include an additional 1,000 stand. There being such a low initial number of muskets made by this company, there are probably not too many still existing. Norris was also a sub-contractor and parts maker and had his hands in many other deals made by other musket contractors, making parts, representing them in negotiations, etc. He also contracted to make the split-breech carbine (later developed into the rolling block)but didn't deliver during the war. After the war he was involved in the surplus arms trade with Samuel Remington.
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