Springfield 1863 spotted, but....

[Gadsden]

Saw one at my friend's shop ysterday. Looked at it just closely enough to be dangerous. I know nothing about these guns, so a few questions:

I noticed that the hammer didn't seem to line up with the nipple very well, the hammer being too far out from the barrel. I see there were two versions, the Type I which used barrel bands held on by screws instead of retaining springs, eliminated the cleanout screw, had a different ramrod, different rear sight, etc. The Type II went back to using these features.

I found one comment that stated this change also moved the nipple more inboard to the barrel, but can't seem to find it anywhere else. In fact, I can't find the original comment again.

Now then, The gun I saw had 1863 on the lock, but had barrels bands with springs, the two-leaf rear sight for certain. I didn't look at the ramrod or for a date on the barrel. I am wondering if those two items coupled with the mis-aligned hammer may point to a Type II from 1864 that had the lock replaced with a Type I?

Also, I didn't look down the bore but did stick my finger in the muzzle. I didn't feel any rifling. Would the rifling be fairly evident by touch, or is this more likley one that was bored out after the war?

Am I on the right track here?

I had no designs on this gun, but the ride home got me to thinking. I could probably pick it up for something in the $800 range. Thoughts?

 

[varsity07840]

Some pics of the musket would be useful.

There are no differences in the locks and barrels/bolsters between the Type I and Type II.
If the barrel on the musket you saw has a clean out screw it's from an 1855 or much more likely, an 1861. The 1861 and Type I 1863 had 2 leaf rear sights. The misaligned hammer and nipple may be due to a mismatched model lock and barrel. There are quite a few muskets out there with parts from 1861s and both types of 1863. Some date back to wartime as it was not uncommon to use whatever parts were available to keep a musket in service. Others have been fooled with over the years. The three groove rifling at the muzzle was very shallow when new. If it is bored out smooth or just worn, it can be relined to make it a shooter.

Duane

 

[dcriner]

This is an original, not a reproduction? If you like the looks of it, it is a bargain. But check the bore, with a bore light, not just your finger.