Help ID an old US Springfield Rifle

Bushcrafts · Aug 11, 2013

Wondering if anyone has information on the US Springfield rifle.
It was my grandfather's.
Thanks

Al-Jim19 · Aug 12, 2013

I would recommend calling the armory museum. I'm sure they ocould help you out with it. There's also a link on there web page with a record of their collections which could help. I would post it if I wasn't on my phone, but it's really easy to find.

PatMcD · Aug 12, 2013

Basic info. is that it is a 45-70 Trapdoor Springfield (as much as I can see from the small pics on my phone). Should be a date on the receiver near the eagle. 1873 maybe?

- - - Updated - - -

I take that back. Cant tell if thats a ramrod or a cleaning rod

PatMcD · Aug 12, 2013

Looking at bigger pictures on my computer, I think that's a 1863 Percussion Musket.

OldNorth · Aug 12, 2013

Model 1863 but barrel looks too short?

EJFudd · Aug 12, 2013

PatMcD said:
Looking at bigger pictures on my computer, I think that's a 1863 Percussion Musket.

OldNorth said:
Model 1863 but barrel looks too short?

Both correct. It's a shortened Springfield 1863 Type II (dated 1864).

Bushcrafts · Aug 12, 2013

EJFudd · Aug 13, 2013

Drum13 said:
Thanks for the help guys.
I couldn't get the pics to upload correctly and do have more. I can make out a stamp what looks to be '1864' behind the hammer.
It's also missing the cap nipple and it is a ramrod.

Wonder why the barrel was shortened?

Here are links to the pictures I took if anyone is interested in taking a look...

The Springfield Model 1863 Type II (also known as the "Springfield Model 1864") obviously was produced very close to the end of the Civil War. It's never been clear to me how many were actually distributed to Union troops and used in the Civil War because so many other muskets (1861's, 1863 Type I's and others) were available for the troops, even late recruits, in that time frame. Opinions seem to vary all over the place and records in that regard are scarce.

From Wikipedia: Springfield Model 1863 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"The Type II is sometimes referred to as the Model 1864, but is more commonly referred to as just a variant of the Model 1863. This version re-introduced band springs, replaced the clamping bands with solid oval bands, and replaced the three leaf rear sight with single leaf sight. A total of 255,040 of these were manufactured from 1864 to 1865.

By the end of the Civil War, muzzle loading rifles and muskets were considered to be obsolete. In the years following the Civil War, many Model 1863 muskets were converted into breech loading "Trapdoor Springfields". The breech loading weapons increased the rate of fire from 3 to 4 rounds per minute to 8 to 10 rounds per minute. The Model 1863 could be converted to breech loading for about $5, at a time when a new rifle would cost about $20. The conversion of Model 1863 rifles therefore represented a significant cost savings to the U.S. military."

My guess is that your 1863 Type II was shortened some time after leaving the factory by its owner or some local gunsmith. I don't believe it was a greatly popular thing to do but I have certainly seen other examples at shows and antique gun shops.

You might want to write or visit the Springfield Armory historian at the Springfield Armory Museum in Springfield, MA to find out more. Call ahead if you plan to visit because who knows how the sequester is affecting the Springfield Armory Museum.

Help ID an old US Springfield Rifle

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