I just picked up an 1841 and I was wondering what the patch box was used for?
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I just picked up an 1841 and I was wondering what the patch box was used for?
To store patches in I reckon. The 1841 ''Mississippi'' was originally produced in .54 cal. with a slow 1:66'' twist rate and fired a patched round ball. The conical Minie bullet wasn't invented until around 1848 IIRC. After the adaption of the M1855 many 1841's were bored out to 58 cal. to used the new Minie bullet. They also had a bayonet stud and new rear sight fitted at this time as well.
Congratulations, is it an original US M1841 or a reproduction?
The patch box was only rarely used to carry patches and almost never was it filled with grease. Military ball ammunition, as loaded at the arsenal or by a contractor, had a permanently attached grease saturated patch sewn around it so the above was not necessary. At times, troops in the field could be required to cast bullets for use but it was rarely necessary, adequate ammunition was carried in the wagons. If the ammunition did have to made up, greased patches could be carried in the box but it was frowned upon and neither patch material nor grease were not items of issue in peace or in war.
The true purpose of the box on the US M1803, M1814, M1819 and M1841 Rifles as well as the later M1855 Riles was for carrying tools; the nipple wrench or, in the case of flint rifles, the screw driver often combined with a flint knapper, occasionally a ball puller and always the worm (more properly called a wiper) as well as a spare percussion cone if a M1841 or M1855. The cone was screwed into a recess in the box.
Attachment 58444
it is a E Whitney 1850 iron sights 54 cal
Nice! Can we see more pictures, please?