1863 Springfield

[Patrick Chadwick]

I discovered very shiny metal under the barrel bands and the stock.

But just because its shiny under the wood doesn't mean it's not original.

This is a point that has been argued about, particularly with regard to the interpretation of old photos taken with orthochromatic (red-insensitive) film. But it appears that the Springfields were indeed delivered with a bright finish. And I hardly think that someone would polish under the barrel bands, but leave the rest of the barrel with the pitting that we see in the photos. Can you make a close up of the area around one of those bands, showing the region you describe?

And of course the nipple is not original - the nipple is a consumable item, so any percussion rifle that was in regular use will have lost its original nipple a century and a half ago! In fact, the modern nipple is rather a hint that a previous owner found it worth shooting, so I would take it as a positive point. An original nipple would suggest a rifle that was left to rot in a corner somewhere.

Do not forget that Minie rifles had much shallower grooves than patched-ball rifles. Just clean it carefully. And make up a bore light, if you have not already got one.

---------- Post added at 06:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:20 PM ----------

a dead give away is repros are metric thread !

Not so. Not all repros have metric threads. Nipples are available in a great variety of sizes, including all those needed for Springfields, Zouaves, Enfields etc. With the correct imperial threads. As for other screws on old rifles, it is often very difficult to measure the threads with sufficient accuracy. I have screw-cutting equipment in BA, BSW, BSF, ME, M, MF, UNC, UNF, UNEF, NPT etc etc, with all the standards...but those old rifles were made before our modern standards were set up, and sometimes I just give up trying to identify them and use whatever fits.

the originals were bright and shiney !

Not for long. A new steel nipple lose its shine very quickly. Unless, of course, it is in stainless steel, which would be a bit odd...