Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War
	Civil War Weapons, all pre 1898
	by Harry Ridgeway

Smoothbore flintlock musket, Model 1816, Springfield, 1838, converted to percussion in 1850's using Belgian cone alteration, .69cal. . The Model 1816 was originally designed as a flintlock muzzleloader, .69cal. smoothbore, manufactured from 1816 through 1840. Most were converted to percussion in the 1850's, this one by the Belgian cone alteration, this method was performed at the arsenals. The flintlock pan was milled flat to the lock, the void filled with brass and the top milled flush with the lock, the flintlock hole was plugged, a nipple lug was placed on top of the barrel slightly to the side of lock, and a new hammer was placed to achieve the correct alignment. Manufactured by Springfield Armory, Springfield, Massachusetts. Marks: Lock is marked SPRING / FIELD / 1838 behind the hammer, with eagle head and US in front. Barrel is marked P, eagle head, and V, breech tang date is 1838. Buttplate is marked US, Model features: Iron buttplate is straight against the shoulder, iron strap opposite the lock, iron trigger guard, no rear sight, two iron barrel bands, two strap hooks with button or cylindrical swivel, large iron nose guard serves as third band and forward sight, bayonet lug on top of barrel at muzzle, steel ramrod is button head and threaded. The butt stock features a very low comb, which is the graceful curve between the butt and the wrist of the stock. Research Center: Weapon1202-Musket-Model-1816-Springfield-1838 . Reference: Flayderman 9A-200. Barrel length, 42 in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon1202-Musket-Model-1816-Springfield-1838.html

W1347 ### Smoothbore flintlock musket, Model 1816, Springfield, 1838, converted to percussion in 1850's using Belgian cone alteration, .69cal. . The Model 1816 was originally designed as a flintlock muzzleloader, .69cal. smoothbore, manufactured from 1816 through 1840. Most were converted to percussion in the 1850's, this one by the Belgian cone alteration, this method was performed at the arsenals. The flintlock pan was milled flat to the lock, the void filled with brass and the top milled flush with the lock, the flintlock hole was plugged, a nipple lug was placed on top of the barrel slightly to the side of lock, and a new hammer was placed to achieve the correct alignment. Manufactured by Springfield Armory, Springfield, Massachusetts. Marks: Lock is marked SPRING / FIELD / 1838 behind the hammer, with eagle head and US in front. Barrel is marked P, eagle head, and V, breech tang date is 1838. Buttplate is marked US, Model features: Iron buttplate is straight against the shoulder, iron strap opposite the lock, iron trigger guard, no rear sight, two iron barrel bands, two strap hooks with button or cylindrical swivel, large iron nose guard serves as third band and forward sight, bayonet lug on top of barrel at muzzle, steel ramrod is button head and threaded. The butt stock features a very low comb, which is the graceful curve between the butt and the wrist of the stock. Research Center: Weapon1202-Musket-Model-1816-Springfield-1838 . Reference: Flayderman 9A-200. Barrel length, 42 in.

This is the "Ridgeway Civil War Research Center", a research tool for educational purposes only, and is provided at no cost to the reader. Some of the relics listed are retained in the author's collection, most reside in other collections and are not owned by the author. None of the items listed in this section are for sale, please refer to relicman.com sales listings for items offered for sale. This is a work in progress, I list items as I get to them, there are many patterns that are not listed yet, this list will be regularly updated as I get pictures and descriptions for more items. I will also correct mistakes, so if you see any please tell me. All items listed are believed to be authentic to the Civil War or as otherwise described. Any excavated relics have been recovered from private property with owners permission.This information is available for research purposes, pictures may be used by permission only.

All weapons listed on this webpage are strictly manufactured before 1898, and are considered unsafe for actual use. These are antique collectible weapons of the Civil War (most are pre 1865, unless I state otherwise) and actual firing of these weapons is not recommended for any purpose whatsoever! Because these are all "pre 1898" weapons, no licenses are required for ownership, but common sense and good judgment should be applied.

Most information on this page is from:
Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms......
John Thillman series, "Civil War Cavalry & Artillery Sabers...", or "Civil War Army Swords....".

Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War Weapons Research center, weapons, click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon0000-Index.html. Research center, weapons, click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon0000-Index.html.

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Civil War Relicman, Harry Ridgeway, Civil War weapons, Relicman sales catalog. Sale listings click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Relicman-Sales-Weapon0000.html. Sale listings click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Relicman-Sales-Weapon0000.html.