Benny
10-17-2006, 03:00 PM
Hi there....
I'm hoping there might be some 1863 Springfield experts on the forum...I have 3 rifles that have been in my family since the Civil War ended. First of all they are not for sale, and I hope they never will be. I hope they will be handed down for future generations just like they were to me.
The number 1 rifle is "Arsenal Fresh", It was issued, but never fired. There is a long story to go with it, but I can verify, by pulling the breech plug, that it never has had a fire built in it. a plug was carved and plugged the Muzzle, and it was put in a closet, and that is where it has been living....It different closets, for over 140 years.....
The number 2 rifle is almost as pristine as the one above, but it has been fired. Not many times grant you but it has been fired at least 10 times since the war ended....I fired it this month. It had been fired before tho...
The number 3 rifle is a little rough...It is a shooter tho', and was used for a hunting rifle until around 1900. It appears to have been "Cobbled" from several models. All 3 of the rifles have locks that have 1863 on them, and the top 2 have 1863 on the barrels. The number 3 Rifle, has a barrel with no date, and it has a cleanout plug on the drum which I think was last used in 1861.
If anyone is more knowledgeable on the Springfield than me, I'd like to work with them. I can send pictures of the differences . I want to document these rifles so that after I'm gone, my Grandchildren will know something about them. If anyone knows of a forum that deals in the restoration or documentation of the Civil War Springfield, could you let me know....
Thanks, Benny
I'm hoping there might be some 1863 Springfield experts on the forum...I have 3 rifles that have been in my family since the Civil War ended. First of all they are not for sale, and I hope they never will be. I hope they will be handed down for future generations just like they were to me.
The number 1 rifle is "Arsenal Fresh", It was issued, but never fired. There is a long story to go with it, but I can verify, by pulling the breech plug, that it never has had a fire built in it. a plug was carved and plugged the Muzzle, and it was put in a closet, and that is where it has been living....It different closets, for over 140 years.....
The number 2 rifle is almost as pristine as the one above, but it has been fired. Not many times grant you but it has been fired at least 10 times since the war ended....I fired it this month. It had been fired before tho...
The number 3 rifle is a little rough...It is a shooter tho', and was used for a hunting rifle until around 1900. It appears to have been "Cobbled" from several models. All 3 of the rifles have locks that have 1863 on them, and the top 2 have 1863 on the barrels. The number 3 Rifle, has a barrel with no date, and it has a cleanout plug on the drum which I think was last used in 1861.
If anyone is more knowledgeable on the Springfield than me, I'd like to work with them. I can send pictures of the differences . I want to document these rifles so that after I'm gone, my Grandchildren will know something about them. If anyone knows of a forum that deals in the restoration or documentation of the Civil War Springfield, could you let me know....
Thanks, Benny