SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1842 RIFLE
Percussion Springfield rifle, 42" barrel, 57 3/4" overall, a Model 1842 musket, converted to a .69 caliber rifle by boring out the barrel. The rifle features three steel barrel bands, secured by retaining springs, with a full-length underslung ramrod. The lockplate is marked "Springfield 1853" behind the hammer, with a federal eagle above the initials "U S". The initials "U.S." also appear at the top of the butt plate, and two indistinct inspector's marks are visible on the stock, just behind the side plate. The metal components of the rifle bear a fine layer of brown oxidation overall. The bore is dark, but the rifling is easily discernible. The metal of the barrel beneath the stock and barrel bands retains its original bright finish. The Model 1842 was first issued as a smoothbore musket with a thick barrel, anticipating that it would someday be more effective to convert it into a rifle. Many of these rifles had sights added during the conversion process, but aside from the original small hump on the forward barrel band, these are absent in this example. The original musket was also the first in the U.S. to utilize a percussion lock, and the first American small arm to feature full interchangeable machine-made components.