Musket Studies and Restorations
Here we would like to catalog the research and work of NJCWHA members and renowned experts of civil war weaponry. The selection of reproduction weapons available to historians and reenactors is severely limited, causing us to think creatively to obtain these weapons. Within the last few years we have seen a burst of new talent in the gunsmithing world finally providing for us the expertise needed to expand this horizon. It is our goal here to be able to provide some basic resources as well as some first hand photos of rarer rifles and muskets.
It is estimated that just under one half million Springfield rifles muskets of both the m1861 and m1863 pattern were produced by private contractors during the war between the states. Springfield Arsenal itself was responsible for 265,129 m1861 Muskets, and slightly over 500,000 M1863's(both versions) Here is a link to a comprehensive website with contract production dates and numbers as well as lock plate photos.
Currently there are a few options to turn your standard reproduction Springfield into a contract gun. Original plates do appear on the market from time to time, and can be found with or without the lock mechanism. The normal method up till now has been to take surface area off the reproduction lock plate and individually stamp the letters and numbers upon this surface. Obviously this method leads to differing results. Currently there is one gunsmith making contract plates from scratch. Mark Hartman of the James River Armory is able to create a plate with your choice on contractor and date and affix it for you lock. He also does 1842's and Enfields. The website is here: James River Armory
Recently one of our members purchased an Austrian Lorenz rifle. There is no mass produced reproduction Austrian Lorenz on the market available under one-thousand dollars. Therefore leaving those brave folks who wish to obtain one the option of hunting down and original specimen. The Lorenz rifle was the 3rd most used weapon during the war and is believed to be the most under-represented piece. There were two main "patterns" if you will of Lorenz rifles. The "pattern" 1854 and 1862. The pattern 1854 were mainly the European version of American flintlock conversions. They can be recognized by usually and earlier (approx 861 and before) 3 digit stamp on the lock plate, as well as variations in cone placement and lock plate style. These were the first pieces of the Lorenz persuasion that hit the US and CS troops. As noted by both sides they either received a good batch of Lorenz's or a bad batch. The Pattern '62 are characterized by an Enfield style lock plate. These were the most consistent Lorenz's produced and for the most part has parts interchangeable per factory. Other general attributes to the Lorenz style was a front band similar to the M1842, a check piece in the rear of the stock and a quadrangular bayonet. Please see the short compilation in our Articles and the suggested bibliography to read more about these rifles.
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The piece seen above is the condition in which it was received. The lock plate is lacking a date on the lock plate, as well as the tell tail check piece which donates that it may have been a "Belgian variant." A good number of arms, both contracted by the US and other foreign governments were outsourced, as we call them, Belgium variants. We can see example of variants, mainly in the M1842, but there have been examples of M1861's etc. Please note on this the amount of work needed to bring the piece into "reenacting shape" First and foremost the stock could have either been elongated or replaced. The owner opted to send the piece of Lodgewood MFG for the work needed. A middle barrel band needed to be fabricated to replace the lost one, including the sling swivel. Aside from those major issues a small host of basic maintenance needed to be performed. The barrel and lock cleaned and tested, the ramrod straightened and the slide added to the leaf sight.
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Above is the finished product as it was returned from the shop. Including the bayonet which was the 1st pattern with the straight channel for the sight. The later bayonets were quadrangular as well but had a more typical American right angle channel in them. The final project for the piece would be to acquire (though 2 rivet scabbards were common here) a proper Lorenz Scabbard which was made of a bodice of wood and look like the following. It attached to an Enfield style frog with the brass clip you see towards the throat.
1816 Springfield Percussion Conversion
Here we will follow the slight restoration of an original 1816 conversion weapon.
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