Springfield Model 1840 Flintlock Musket
Encyclopedia
The Model 1840 Flintlock Musket was produced at Springfield Armory
. The .69 caliber Musket had a 42" barrel, an overall length of 58", and a weight of 9.8 lbs. More than 30,000 were produced by the Springfield Armory and two independent contractors between 1840 and 1846.
The Model 1840 was a minor improvement over the Springfield Model 1835
musket, and therefore was not dramatically different from the older Model 1835. 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.
The Model 1840 was the last flintlock
musket produced at Springfield Armory. Many were converted to percussion lock before they made it to the field. Although produced as a smooth bore musket, most of the Model 1840's had their barrels rifled later, as the designers had anticipated.
Springfield Armory
The Springfield Armory, located in the City of Springfield, Massachusetts - from 1777 until its closing in 1968 - was the primary center for the manufacture of U.S. military firearms. After its controversial closing during the Vietnam War, the Springfield Armory was declared Western Massachusetts'...
. The .69 caliber Musket had a 42" barrel, an overall length of 58", and a weight of 9.8 lbs. More than 30,000 were produced by the Springfield Armory and two independent contractors between 1840 and 1846.
Springfield Model 1835
The US Model 1835 Musket was a .69 caliber flintlock musket used in the United States during the early 19th Century.The Model 1835 was produced by the Springfield Armory, and was also produced by the Harper's Ferry Armory and other contractors. It was a smooth bore musket and fired a .69 caliber...
musket, and therefore was not dramatically different from the older Model 1835. 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.
The Model 1840 was the last flintlock
Flintlock
Flintlock is the general term for any firearm based on the flintlock mechanism. The term may also apply to the mechanism itself. Introduced at the beginning of the 17th century, the flintlock rapidly replaced earlier firearm-ignition technologies, such as the doglock, matchlock and wheellock...
musket produced at Springfield Armory. Many were converted to percussion lock before they made it to the field. Although produced as a smooth bore musket, most of the Model 1840's had their barrels rifled later, as the designers had anticipated.
See also
- List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces
- Springfield musketSpringfield musketSpringfield musket may refer to any one of several types of small arms produced by the Springfield Armory in Springfield, Massachusetts, for the United States armed forces. In modern times, these muskets are commonly referred to by their date of design followed by the name Springfield . However, U.S...
- MusketMusketA musket is a muzzle-loaded, smooth bore long gun, fired from the shoulder. Muskets were designed for use by infantry. A soldier armed with a musket had the designation musketman or musketeer....