Springfield Model 1840 flintlock musket

Model 1840 musket
A Springfield Model 1840 flintlock and bayonet
Type	Musket
Place of origin	United States of America
Service history
In service	1840–1865
Used by	United States Confederate States of America
Wars	Indian Wars Mexican–American War American Civil War
Production history
Designer	?
Designed	1840
Manufacturer	United States Armory and Arsenal at Springfield, United States Armory and Arsenal at Harper's Ferry
Produced	1840–1846
No. built	30,000
Specifications
Weight	>9.8 lb (4.4 kg)
Length	58.0 in (1,470 mm)
Barrel length	42.0 in (1,070 mm)
Cartridge	Paper cartridge, musket ball undersized (.65/16.510 mm) to reduce the effects of powder fouling
Caliber	.69 (17.526 mm)
Barrels	Smoothbore
Action	Flintlock
Rate of fire	User dependent; usually 2 to 3 rounds every 1 minute
Muzzle velocity	1,000 ft/s (300 m/s) to 1,200 ft/s (370 m/s)
Effective firing range	100 to 200 yards, in reality 50 to 75 yards
Maximum firing range	300 yards[1]
Feed system	Muzzle-loaded
Sights	A front sight cast into the barrel band

The Springfield Model 1840 flintlock musket was manufactured in Springfield and in Harper's Ferry. The .69 caliber musket had a 42-inch (107 cm) barrel, an overall length of 58 inches (147 cm), and a weight of 9.8 pounds (4,4 kg). More than 30,000 were produced by the Springfield Armory and two independent contractors between 1840 and 1846.

A Springfield Model 1840 at full cock with missing flint and bayonet

The Model 1840 was a minor improvement over the Springfield Model 1835 musket, and therefore was not dramatically different from the older Model 1835. The Model 1840 featured a longer bayonet with a clasp and a Stock with a comb. The designers of the Model 1840 anticipated that the musket would eventually be rifled, and made the barrel heavier than the earlier Model 1835 accordingly. The various modifications to the Model 1840 made it slightly heavier than the Model 1835.^[2]

The Model 1840 was the last flintlock musket produced at Springfield Armory. Many were converted to percussion lock before they made it to the field. Although produced as a smoothbore musket, most of the Model 1840s had their barrels rifled later, as the designers had anticipated.

See also

• List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces
• List of wars involving the United States
• Military history of the United States
• United States Armed Forces
• Military of the Confederate States of America
• Charleville musket
• Brown Bess
• Potzdam Musket 1723
• M1752 Musket
• Springfield musket
• Springfield rifle
• Musket
• Rifle
• Carbine
• Historical reenactment
• American Civil War reenactment

References