Went to the Amoskeag Auction today and came home with Bucket List #1

[majspud]

It is a M95/08 as the stud is the right size for the gap; it just sticks half way on.

T

[majspud]

First supply order came in; .69 tompion, original proper sized British musket flint, .69 brass brush, bore gauge, and a M1816 flint cap. Bore gauge shows a muzzle of .73cal.

T

[CINDERS]

.69 is a fair size chunk of lead coming your way, mind you in the confusion of battle in those days with everyone shoot'in and such stuff the battlefield after about five minutes would look like a pea souper in Hong Kong at knock off on a Friday.
Just my ignorance of your history sorry guys but did this pre date the squirrel .36 cal guns the likes that I guess Davey Crockett used were they called a Brown Bess ! do not cane me its just a question.

As for the weapon it looks pretty good for a 201+ y/o piece now what stories that could tell....TIA

[browningautorifle]

The gun Crockett was using was a Kentucky rifle. Different gun. The Brown Bess has the distinction of being used for the longest time as a service rifle.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Well, according to my information, no-one apart from Majspud seems to have it quite right, so putting on my pedant's hat, here goes with my 2c-worth:

On April 23, 1808, Congress passed a "Act for Arming and Equipping the Militia". This resulted in the letting of several contracts for muskets, which are therefore "1808 Contract Muskets". They are not M-08 or M1808 Muskets, there being no such Springfield (i.e. regular military) U.S.Musket Model designation, and they were not produced by Springfield.

The magnificent example shown in this thread is of a "U.S. Musket, Model 1795", with the near-straight cockspur introduced in 1804 and the rounded, integral pan introduced in 1808. It therefore seems to be a Model 1795 Type III. The frizzen spring would be expected to have a spear-tip by 1812, but the one shown here has a slightly amorphous shape that makes it hard to classify. Describing it as an "M95/08" may be a handy collector's shorthand, but I do not think it was an official designation.

[gew8805]

Excellent post Patrick. I am sure that both you and majspud are aware that the most accurate book on the M1795 military musket and it's variants is U.S. Military Flintlock Muskets, and Their Bayonets, the Early Years, 1790-1815 by Peter A. Schmidt. It and Mr. Schmidt's Volume II of the series, U.S. Military Flintlock Muskets, and Their Bayonets, the Later Years, 1816 through Civil War have information that give the reader information that has been ignored or is "newly found" on these important military arms.

[Patrick Chadwick]

"Bore gauge shows a muzzle of .73cal."

Majspud, if you are seriously thinking of firing that old banger (and I certainly would) then I would not rely on any gauge that does not measure right down to the powder chamber. Old muskets can have seriously "blunderbuss"-type muzzle ends, and so if you size a ball and patch according to a measurement taken near the muzzle, and try to load it, you may find that you end up with a serious jam long before the ball is seated on the powder.

So, unless you are fortunate enough to have a bore gauge that can measure down to the bottom of a 3'6" tube, I recommend turning up a plug to the size given by your gauge, screw the plug onto a long rod - and see if it can run down the entire length of the bore. If we were neighbors, I would bet you a beer that the 0.73" plug does not slide right down to the powder chamber!

You may need to experimentally reduce the diameter of the plug until it passes right down the bore. Dimension your ball + patch according to the tightest spot. If there is indeed some noticeable bell-mouthing, then use a thick, well-greased patch (I usually wet patches in my mouth, so in my case it would be "well-slobbered") to provide a "hydraulic seal" and let us know how you get on!

[majspud]

My presumption as well. Something's off about the gauge anyways; a .715 round ball for my 1849 M39/55 rifled Prussian .72 does not fit in the muzzle.

Can't do anything until I get the spring fixed. My source didn't have one. I'm going to see if my gunsmith can re-temper it with a torch.

T

[gsimmons]

Have you Lodgewood Manufacturing? He has one of the best selections of parts.

[majspud]

I just sent them a a request. I've their site in my bookmarks.

T