The Springfield Model 1840 was a flintlock musket manufactured by the United States during the mid-19th century. The .69 caliber musket had a 42-inch (107 cm) barrel, an overall length of 58 inches (147 cm), and a weight of 9.8 pounds (4.4 kg). More than 30,000 were produced by the Springfield and Harpers Ferry armories and two independent contractors between 1840 and 1846 (D. Nippes and L. Pomeroy).[2]
| Springfield Model 1840 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Musket |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1840–1865 |
| Used by | United States Confederate States |
| Wars | American Indian Wars Mexican–American War American Civil War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1840 |
| Manufacturer | Springfield Armory Harpers Ferry Armory D. Nippes L. Pomeroy |
| Produced | 1840–1846 |
| No. built | c. 30,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 9.8 lb (4.4 kg) |
| Length | 58.0 in (1,470 mm) |
| Barrel length | 42.0 in (1,070 mm) |
| Cartridge | Paper cartridge, buck and ball/musket ball undersized (.65/16.510 mm) to reduce the effects of powder fouling |
| Caliber | .69 in (17.526 mm) |
| Action | Flintlock/percussion lock (conversion) |
| Rate of fire | User dependent; usually 2 to 3 rounds per minute |
| Muzzle velocity | 1,000 ft/s (300 m/s) to 1,200 ft/s (370 m/s) |
| Effective firing range | 100 to 200 yards, in reality 50 to 75 yards |
| Maximum firing range | 300 yards (275 m)[1] |
| Feed system | Muzzle-loaded |
| Sights | A front sight cast into the upper barrel band, rear sight (percussion/rifled conversion) |
The Model 1840 was a minor improvement over the Springfield Model 1835, and therefore was not dramatically different from the older musket. The Model 1840 featured a longer bayonet with a clasp and a stock with a comb. The designers of the Model 1840 anticipated that the musket would eventually be rifled, and made the barrel heavier than the earlier Model 1835 accordingly. The various modifications to the Model 1840 made it slightly heavier than the Model 1835.[3]
The Model 1840 was the last flintlock musket produced at Springfield and Harpers Ferry armories. Many were converted to percussion lock before they made it to the field. Although produced as a smoothbore musket, most of the Model 1840s had their barrels rifled later, as the designers had anticipated.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Barbieri, Michael (2013-08-26). "How far is "musket-shot"? Farther than you think". Journal of the American Revolution. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
- ^ The Civil War Book of Lists, by Combined Books (Firm), Published by Da Capo Press, 1992
- ^ "Guns on the Early Frontiers" by Carl P. Russell, Published by U of Nebraska Press, 1980
External links
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