Long-Barreled Air Rifle. If we look at what Lewis took from Harpers Ferry, we can see he planned for exactly 30 men 15 with short rifles and 15 with muskets. 100). All military M1803 rifles used a solid rib for a better soft solder adhering surface. Thus, if any notes or journals exist for those lost periods, there is a good chance the rifles were mentioned in one form or another. The disassembly of these rifles and examination of the assembly numbers, viz. United States 1792 contract rifles are Pennsylvania-Kentucky rifles with a 42-inch long octagonal barrel in .49 caliber, with a patch box built into the buttstock. This tells us that they were sighting their rifles to 300 yards with a mid-range trajectory designed to strike the center at 125 to 150 yards. They were so special that Harpers Ferry built the militarys first sniper rifle in 1814 specifically for the best of these men as the force was increased. Horseman's Pistols, 15 Rifles, 15 Powder Horns and Pouches, 15 1792/1794 Lewis and Clark Contract Rifle - Don Stith The only place a front sling swivel could be mounted was through the fragile front rib, which, being hollow on the first 15 rifles (based upon serial number 15 rifle), makes it incapable of bearing the weight of the rifle without an extra barrel mounted loop for this purpose. This new rifle would also use the same SDS powder that the British adopted for their series of rifles shipped over for use in the American Revolution.(3). Most long rifles will shoot well with a charge slightly greater than the ball diameter viz. 1792/1794 Lewis and Clark Contract Rifle This RECREATED EXPEDITION RIFLE has been crafted based on the careful study of the five presently-known surviving examples (two of which are signed by Jacob Dickert) of the U.S. "Publick" Rifles in stores at Harpers Perry when Meriwether Lewis arrived in 1803. cit., pg. reproduction example was made by Virginia-based gunmakers Al Edge Could Harpers Ferry have made his 15 rifles in the time allotted? A full 90 grain would easily reach the 2,000 FPS mentioned by Sawyer. We have seen several rifles with the first number removed (leaving a wide space) to make them into a low serial numbered rifle. . (21) The fact that he shot the rifles at the arsenal also hints that they were of a totally different design than the M1792 long rifle with which he was already well familiar. The arsenal had no part in the 1792/94 contract rifles and none were ever stored there. Lighter charges also meant conservation of valuable powder. With that threat over, the American rifle battalions were dropped in the May 4, 1800 Army reorganization. Major historical writers on antique firearms could not find an explanation for the errors found in both the Harpers Ferry 1805 pistol and 1795 musket production. (Phillip Schreier/ Winchester Model of 1895 .405 Win/American Rifleman, April 2007/ pg. To complete our calibre study, we measured as many original short rifle military bullet molds that we could locate in collections and in all instances they measured .520. By the manual, a rifle regiment consisted of 1000 men formed into 10 companies of two battalions, each battalion containing 500 men (5 companies each). All I had to do was prove that Harpers Ferry COULD have made his guns within the allotted timeframe and that a lot of period records being used as gospel by writers for many years were wrong. Clark resigned his commission six months after Lewis arrived (1796).(10). In 1792 there was a need for rifles, and a contract was drawn up with Lancaster, Pennsylvania, gunsmiths to deliver rifles. Confederate Victory. 441. (1), Sawyers Model 1800 rifle theory was based upon the fact that on March 3, 1799, Congress passed an act authorizing the addition to the regular army of One Regiment and battalion rifles consisting of 1,840 privates, totaling 2052 men. Serial number 318 has a flared pipe which means they simply used one of the newer sub-assemblies. (16) The common long rifle (M1792) did have one serious drawback that made it totally unsuitable for continued Army use the non-standardization of calibers. This was a literal blank check to use all resources to make Lewiss arms in time for the upcoming expedition. It required the building of firearms for testing purposes. (6) The Spanish administered the French speaking colony. Our findings on the ball size were finally substantiated to our satisfaction by a book Colonial Frontier Guns, by T.M. These are two important points to consider when looking for a REAL 1803 production rifle. By 1802, Perkin had established a manufactory similar to that in Europe where each craftsman was responsible for a specific component part of the gun or its mounting. Some locks were marked on the edges with straight cut lines. TYPE I Lewis and Clark contract rifles (M1800 only) made specifically for their expedition. (3) Viz. This has been an error that has persisted since books were written on this subject. (9) Tony Hunter, The Wilderness Fighters: Part Four, (Muzzleloader Magazine, JULY/AUG 2005), Pgs. There was probably more than just Colter who bought their guns. This 1803 Harpers Ferry rifle's serial number, 12, can still be made out after George Knapp restored the gun, which is thought to be one of 15 rifles brought on Lewis and Clark's. History - Don Stith According to the journals, Windsors rifle had burst on the morning of June 16,1806. These arms enjoyed the longest production run in U.S. history, lasting until 1844, with nearly 700,000 muskets turned out during this period. Two original guns have surfaced that are probably authentic to Lewis and Clark's journey, though the Lewis and Clark gun were likely prototypes. Straight upper pipe on SN 94, made pre-December 1803 (changes) in the Cody, Wyoming museum. The fiscal year 1804 was the same as the calendar year until 1838, so storekeeper production reporting of new weapons built in 1803 may simply be the result of Harpers Ferry exceeding their new production budget for the year 1803, forcing them to delay production reporting until fiscal year 1804. Some believe that the contract rifles Lewis had modified for the expedition 42" rifled barrel bored 40 balls to the pound (about .490"), stock to be made from well seasoned maple, catch spring release to be high so as to be accessible to the thumb. I have such convincing proof of the advantage the short rifle has over the long ones (commonly used) in actual service as to leave no doubt in my mind of preferring the short rifle, with larger Calibers than the long ones usually have and with stiff steel ramrods instead of wooden ones the great facility which such rifles afford in charging, in addition to their being less liable to become foul by firing, gives a decided advantage to an equal skill and dexterity over those armed with the common long rifle.(13). Clark, July 2, 1806 We gave the Second gun to our guides agreeable to our promis..two of the rifles have unfortunately bursted near the muscle. The closest powder on todays market equal to the 18th century SDS is Schuetzen black powder. Only if a pattern lock, complete with pan and mounting holes, was furnished to a gunsmith prior to production (such as was obviously done with the 15 extra locks made for Lewiss rifles)could any degree of interchangeability become possible.(15). These dates and passages are very important to the researcher. It also has a button release for the patch-box (as specified in the contract) under the toe plate where it might not get accidentally bumped), scant incised carving andmoderately engraved brass. Ed Pugsley was an employee of Winchester and turned over much of his collection to the company. 1803 Harpers Ferry Rifle. The second observation worthy of note is the comment about the rifling being less liable to become fouled by firing. This was no doubt the prime reason Lewis wanted a better rifle of a single caliber. Tait made a strong case that Lewis must have picked up fif- teen rifles from the U.S. Contract of 1792 or 1794. Joseph Perkin, superintendent of the recently created Harper's Ferry Armory, was placed in charge of the design of the new rifle. The original sight on SN 15 still had blueing on the underside. 3. Only by studying the documents surrounding the origin of a weapon and original specimens themselves can a production timeframe be concluded. Therefore, they went to a solid rib on the military contract and omitted a sling. Owned by Leon Budginas of Salt Lake City, Utah, it traces its origin back 35 years to a St. Louis Antique shop, where ironically the expeditions surviving arms and equipment were sold at public auction upon their return. U.S. Model 1800 flintlock rifle serial #15 made at Harper's Ferry Arsenal Unknown to the United States, The Treaty of San Ildefonso (October 1, 1800) ceded Louisiana back to France but Spain basically ignored the treaty, most likely due to Spains reluctance to give up her forts along the east bank of the Mississippi river land that was ceded to the United States by England in the Treaty of Paris. ************************************************************************, The Lewis and Clark Harpers Ferry Short Rifle, Manufactured by Richard H. Keller & Ernest E. Cowan, Great War Militaria, Chambersburg, Pa. 17201. At 100 yards, the odds were very much in favor of being struck by an American rifle ball whereas a British soldier, using the smoothbore musket, could shoot all day and probably not strike a man sized target at 100 yards, thus our riflemen were greatly feared. We will let the reader draw their own conclusion based upon the information herein. Could serial number 15 have been the rifle that he initially took with him? If someone did manage to rig a homemade sling on a rifle, it would block the sight picture. January 4, 1792, the Secretary of War, Henry Knox wrote a letter to General Hand in Lancaster, Pennsylvania authorizing him to get with the area gunmakers and contract with them to make 500 to 1000 rifles as quickly as possible. Dies had not yet been made to make the one-piece stamping. cit./Table D) The totals agree from two different sources, giving credibility to 4,015 total production. This single fact alone is enough to show the inaccuracy of the Bomford records since he shows no short rifles, pattern or otherwise, produced in 1803. (40) IBID, Vol 6, pg. This is probably not a coincidence. It would not have changed the size of the ball. This highly skilled work force was in place when Lewis arrived on the scene in March of 1803. ((24)(19) From personal experience (working for the government), the same practice of delayed production reporting to meet budgeting constraints continues today within government production facilities. John Potts, another expedition member, was killed in this encounter. Each rifle is unique, especially when fitting the lock. Based on research in, For your convenience you can contact us via our. We found the Model 1800 rifle to be most accurate with a 65-grain charge. Pipes were hard soldered to the rib before assembly so they would not release from the rib during the barrel mounting process. This is a very good theory since only Lewis had any real opportunity to field test the rifles and make such suggestions. Colter joined their party and led them to the Yellowstone Valley. locks and spare lock parts for each rifle. All these early 1803 rifles have had the other two December 1803 changes applied flat sight and the stock ferrule. Any man returning West would have coveted such a powerful weapon, as it was the fore-runner of the large caliber Hawkins type rifles that appeared later. The first rifle designed exclusively for the US Army was made at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, site of the infamous John Brown raid. Standardization of calibers was something Lewis certainly calculated when settling on only two types of weapons muskets and short rifles, requiring only two caliber balls. Eleven different gunsmiths took the contract on, delivering 1,476 rifles between April 1792 and December 1792. We built a case to house the gun when on display along with a list of details unique to the first 15 rifles. John Collins, who was flogged for being AWOL and stealing whiskey, returned West with William Ashleys 1823 expedition, being killed in a battle with the Arikaras that same year. The rifles taken on the expedition are repeatedly referred to as "short rifles". [1], In January 1792, U.S. Secretary of War Henry Knox authorized former General Edward Hand to contract with manufacturers for the rifles. I am almost certain, knowing Colter, he would have taken the opportunity to keep his rifle. (Moulton, .op cit. Whelan seems to be associated with Schuylkill arsenal where some of the 1792/4 contract guns were sent. (Above two photos) M1792 original riflemans axe (top) and reconstructed M1792 axe with original M1792 horn below as we believe were carried by Lewiss 15 riflemen. He published an interesting table Appendix E on page 169, based upon two sets of 19th century bore gauges in the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers Proof House in London. 9. This pipe placement was a common British characteristic found on the Ferguson rifle and the P76 series. The butt end of the ramrod should be concaved suited to the shape of the Ball the locks should be light and well executed the mounting should be brass there should be at least two thousand of these rifles made. Our first Handbook for Riflemen, by William Duane, 1812. Shields Cut them off and they Shute tolerable well one which is very Short we exchanged with the Indian whoe we had given a longer gun to indue them to pilot us across the mountains.(34). Various spellings of his name are recorded. Clark used the term small rifle when referring to his personal small caliber long rifle to avoid confusion with any other weapon in their arsenal. An 1812 publication The Handbook for Riflemen by William Duane, second in command of the United States Regiment of Riflemen from 1808 to 1810, states A rifleman is never supposed to leave his rifle unloaded, and contrary to the rule of the infantry, who always carry their arms on the left shoulder, the rifleman carries his, unless he shifts it for rest, on his right side, either trailed or at the advance.(47). It will match the other assembly numbers found on the stock and barrel. It rules out the Model 1803, which didn't enter production until the fall. The only logical explanation is that it was put on by someone after the gun was made and stored at an arsenal. e-WV | Harpers Ferry Armory and Arsenal - wvencyclopedia.org Louisiana Governor Claibornes return of arms for the years 1807, 1810 and 1811 show these arms in inventory at New Orleans. We discovered during the production of his rifles that this was a weak spot on the rifle. His first known mention of the short rifle is in March of 1806. (47) Col. B.R. Considering the importance of an expedition authorized by President Jefferson along with Dearborns instructions to Perkin to make whatever Lewis needed without delay, his 17 production workers (some books indicate as many as 20) would have had ample time to manufacture his rifles with the raw materials available at the arsenal with only labor costs. This would allow the round to grip the barrel's rifling as the weapon was fired, and the rifling would impart a spin onto the round which would . the upper end of the upper thimble should be a little Bell muzzled to receive the introduction of the ramrod more conveniently the aperture or cut in the sight near the Breech should be a little wider and a Brass ferrule placed on the end of the Stock near the tail pipe, to prevent that part of the Stock from splitting(18). Lewiss men probably exercised this prerogative, especially the Kentuckians who grew up with a rifle in their hands. It also helps to know what you are looking for, so you must know what an original gun looked like. [3] He points to a "US" stamp on the barrel of a weapon known to have been a contract rifle. They received special privileges and exclusion of normal camp duties. This brass could only have been for the M1800 rifle project that takes two thicknesses. 351; Vol. It was a tremendous job, but as time would tell, he proved himself capable of the task, which led to a position of great power and earned him the absolute trust and confidence of Secretary of War, Henry Dearborn. Silver front sights were popular on long rifles for shooting in the dim light of virgin forests. The .520 calibre ball would ride on the lands and fouling would build only in the grooves only, giving the rifleman more shots between cleanings. Lewis, U.S.A., Early U.S. Military Riflemen, (The American Rifleman, December,1958), Pg. In the process of building 15 rifles of this prototype pattern, we discovered enough to change the entire Harpers Ferry rifle story, most importantly these rifles WERE built in quantity in 1803, Lewis did take the first 15 rifles produced on special order and that the rifle is .52 caliber (not .54 as found in all the books on guns) using a .520 calibre (ball size). Joseph Perkin inspected ALL 1803 dated rifles and some of the early 1804 production, then James Stubblefield took over final inspection to the end of all production in 1819. This may have been done as part of an actual arsenal (or state) overhaul or just to enhance their value to a collector. (5) To begin to unravel the controversy surrounding the type of rifle carried on the Voyage of Discovery, we need to examine how the short rifles appeared on the scene. 1 of the 15 rifles we made. The short rifle, which we believe is all based upon prior successful British rifle designs, may not have taken as long as the development of an entirely new rifle. Lewiss took 50 pounds of Best Rifle Powder from Harpers Ferry and purchased 176 pounds of English Cannister Powder from Beck & Harvey in Philadelphia, who made the best rifle powder in the world. The grooves should not be cut too deep.(#2). This Old Gun: U.S. Model 1803 Rifle - An Official Journal Of The NRA Winchester transferred most of their collection to Cody in 1976. Also, IBID, May/June 2016 story on Colter. A note accompanying this find remarks that in every instance, the measurement was .002 smaller (making it a .519 ball for a 30 bore) than a gauge list reputed to have been adopted by the London Proofing Company in 1883 (which is used in many books today). The individuality of the makers is amazing in all parts of the guns. Since we could not personally examine all the guns serial numbers submitted, we had to acknowledge them as either confirmed (examined and assembly numbers matching) or unconfirmed (unexamined and unknown if assembly numbers match). Perkin had gained extensive knowledge in English arms production, having served his apprenticeship in the Birmingham gun trade before immigrating to America in 1774. It is agreed that they followed the same basic shop patterns used for their civilian market. This sealed the fact that for all these years the caliber for 1803-1819 rifles listed in gun books is wrong. The Harpers Ferry short rifle had long been linked by folklore and early historical writings to the epic Lewis and Clark Voyage of Discovery that threaded its way through the Northwest to the Pacific Ocean and back from 1804 to 1806. If read in full context, noting the dates the rifles are mentioned by proper name, they are convincing enough to satisfy even the most skeptical about what type of rifles to which they were referring. (40), Lewis now has in his hands, at the minimum, 108 pounds of best rifle powder, more than enough to retrace his footsteps again. Second is a the very long-standing misplaced faith in the 1822 reconstructed Bomford records indicating that no short rifles (even prototypes) were made in 1803. (41) De Witt Bailey, Ph. It has always been said that a good shot is born, not made, and it has been proven through history that the average soldier cannot be turned into a proficient rifleman. *********************************************************************** 1804 dated rifles, 373 (U) Buffalo New York History Museum, 708 (C) (Lowest confirmed rifle), 909 (C) (highest confirmed 1804 rifle). It also confirms one other very important detail even if the Army had NOT placed an order for rifles in 1803, Lewis would still have received his fifteen special rifles. Sometime in 1804 breech contour became octagon rather than round (and continued to end of all production) to possibly reinforce this area. After studying so many, one cannot help but appreciate the hand craftsmanship and beauty of these rifles that continued through 1819. Flint - Dixie Gun Works cit./Table 1) Browns calculations were based upon the reconstructed Bomford records, whose total is correct, but we now know that his years of production are also incorrect.
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