1792 harpers ferry rifle

30. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Th e Model 1800 rifle, using the SDS powder, met this requirement. Additionally, Lewis purchased replacement (12) Jackson, op. It is also of note that they were not required to use the maximum charge and that a reduced load would often perform better. (1) The design (patterning) of new weapons at this time could be a slow process, identical to the British methods and done without drawings. found on the surviving examples. With such confusing instructions, the wide range of gunsmiths making the rifles assured inconsistencies especially when the changes were requested while guns were already in production. From 1796-1800, a number (332) of 1792 rifles were loaned to the Indian Department from storage at Schuylkill Arsenal In Philadelphia. completed M1792 rifles were received from various locations, but (14) For many years the caliber(bore size) of the short rifle has been defined as .54, an error caused by measuring the rifle at the muzzle where it is swamped for easy insertion of the patched ball. Details of Serial No. It is important to remember that when shooting at longer distances, their target would consist of an enemy cannon crew, a group of officers, or an infantry line of battle. The arms race was very much alive at that time and our fear of having to face British troops armed with a superior rifle forced the U.S. Army to come up with one equal to or better rifle than theirs. 1800) prototypes. 1803 Harpers Ferry Rifle. This was enough to hold 208 pounds of the 226 special powder carried, with 18 pounds left for immediate use just about right to fill 15 horns for the start of the journey and to practice with the new rifles. Lewis quietly went about gathering his supplies for his small party of men so as not to expose the real size of the expedition about 30 men, all under Army authority and pay.(6). The ball size (calibre) used in ALL of the short rifle series is .520. It has also been generally agreed that a lot of imported (factory purchased) locks were used on these rifles to speed up the process. 38-40; Pg. This entry is significant in that it was made 4 months before any rifles were shortened by Shields. The .520 calibre pure lead cast balls used for test shooting the Model 1800 rifles weighed in at 208 grains (pure refined modern lead). 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. 1792-94 Contract Short Rifle O ther historians agree that Lewis would have taken fifteen of the contract rifles but believe that Lewis ordered modifications. Many, having survived the journey, died at the hands of the Indians in those endeavors. cit./Table D) The totals agree from two different sources, giving credibility to 4,015 total production. Periods where Lewis made no entries are September 19 to November 11 of 1803, May 14, 1804 to April 7, 1805 (almost an entire year) and August 26, 1805 to January 1, 1806.(23). See the special Chapter VIII for more information on these contract rifles. Neither Lewis nor Jefferson could act openly upon this change of plans for the safety of the expedition, plus, by making it a military venture, additional funding could come from the War Department. About 5/8 has been removed from the muzzle of the barrel (perhaps it too had split). Lewiss task was to explore and map this region as well as collect unknown flora and fauna. His rationality can be better understood if we look at our early history, historical documents and surviving weapons. It is considered advisable to have a suitable number of judiciously constructed Rifles manufactured at the Armory under your direction. Joseph Perkin, superintendent of the Harpers Ferry Arsenal, Henry Dearborn, Secretary of War, and Meriwether Lewis are the principal players in this story. American riflemen have always been a subject of legend and myth, both in the years before our Independence from England and long after. Note the slightly flared pipe. Gasss woodcuts show the horns carried on a separate strap. We Sent them a riffle which we offered as a reward to any of them who would engage to conduct us to Clarks river at the entrance of Travellers rest Creek; we also directed them if they found difficuelty in inducing any of them to accompany us to offer the reward of two other guns to be given immediately and ten horses at the falls of the Missouri.(31). List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces, "Papers of the War Department, Authorization to Contract with Manufacturer for Rifles", "Corps of Discovery Rifles of the Expedition". The full charge would have been perfect for large game out to 100 yards. Dearborn wrote again to Perkin on December 2, 1803, stating The iron ribbed Rifle in my opinion is an excellent pattern, with the following very trifling alterations (viz.) Sgt Ordway, June 18, 1806 Drewyer and Shannon Sent on ahead to go to the villages of the pel-oll-pellow nation they took one of the Short rifles in order to git a pilot if possible to go over the mount with us. He also had the gunsmiths add swivels to these weapons, From the 18 May 1803 requisition receipt Lewis received from the arsenal, Dies had not yet been made to make the one-piece stamping. On January 13, 1792, General Hand wrote back and said "he received This pipe could not be changed for reasons explained in the text. (44) A thorough inspection of this early Model 1800 rifle revealed that all assembly numbers matched, making it a very important gun for both the collector and the historian. We hope this article will put to rest the mystery of what type of short rifle was carried on the expedition. reproduction example was made by Virginia-based gunmakers Al Edge Has pictures. Not much doubt that we copied a basic British gun design for our short rifles. This highly skilled work force was in place when Lewis arrived on the scene in March of 1803. 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). This basic fact completely rules out the use 1792 rifles on the expedition. Without enough M1792 rifles in inventory to arm this new force, additional rifles were IMMEDIATELY needed. 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. 1,477 rifles were completed in 1792. type of weapon in stock, in which case it was not necessary to specify Americans along the Mississippi, especially the new State of Kentucky, were furious and the United States overtly began preparations for war (saber rattling) over this issue in early 1803. Small parts (such as screws) may be unmarked on later guns, but most early ones are. Under pressure to deliver the guns, it is no wonder the final product varied considerably in caliber and barrel length. Writers today lump these rifles into basically one class Model 1803, but the story is not that simple and needs to be told for future collectors and historians. Its purpose was to defend the now open frontier. A second contract rifle has been identified, the 1807 Contract Rifle, which has different specifications than the weapons of 1792 and 1794. Enough rifles exist with 1803 dated lock plates to prove full scale production in that year. Before their exploratory trip, the Lewis and Clark Expedition obtained rifles from the Harper's Ferry Arsenal. His Model 1800 rifles, with a unique system of interchangeable locks, were ordered in March of 1803 and well into production two months before Secretary of War Dearborn placed that order. He delivered 106 rifles on the Feb 7,1794 (second contract placed) order of 2000. Most reconversions are easy to spot, but we have seen original rifles that have had the touchhole bushed (using hardened iron or brass) which will not erode. Arsenal Superintendent Perkin was the ideal person to provide this interchangeability of locks due to his prior reputation for lock making at Rappahannock Forge in Virginia. Top is SN 909, bottom is SN 1 of our rifles built on SN 15 rifle pattern. 351; Vol. As stated early in this article, one of his short rifles survived. Dearborn makes no comment of interchangeability of locks for the military rifles, making this feature unique to Lewiss fifteen rifles. When he died in 1800, Whelan was appointed to the office. letter to Perkin supports this, especially when Dearborn states that It was obvious that we were copying a British style weapon when designing the new M1800 rifles. Plains Indians also removed butt plates to use as hide scrappers. rivers, animals, and peoples. Every Collectors Guide on U.S. military firearms has the calibre of these very important rifles wrong (as well as other flintlock government contract rifles to follow but that is another story) because no one took the time to properly gauge the bore. The Lewis and Clark short rifle Harpers Ferry short rifle SN 15, built in 1803 was used as a pattern for our rifle project once we verified its authenticity. pairs of bullet molds, 15 wipers or gun worms, 15 ball screws, This error came from measuring the bores of the rifle at the muzzle, not considering that the muzzle is swamped to allow insertion of the patched ball with the thumb. Other than needing money to continue their war with England, Napoleon had no troops to keep us out of the territory. In such situations, a small group of well-trained riflemen would cause considerable demoralization and casualties within any grouped enemy ranks. Both were supplied by Harpers Ferry arsenal. If I can recover some better photos of the stock will add them. Apparently guns of both contracts were directly delivered to various sources where needed but 1,060 rifles show up in stock at Schuylkill arsenal on Jan 1, 1797, the surplus needed for emergencies as they arose. The amazing distances they were expected to shoot is also recorded .. it becomes necessary to aim lower than the level line when the objects are near and to aim higher when beyond a given distance. It is quite possible a 1 in 15 chance. Many of his Lewiss party later became the whos who of the first mountain men early trappers and explorers drawn back to this wondrous area by the opportunity of making ones fortune in the fur trade. This rifle, with its tremendous muzzle velocity, would have also impressed the Indians as it was the finest, most technologically advanced rifle of its day. The date of this passage and the use of the term short rifles is very important since it is still before any rifles were shortened by Shields. Whether Lewis had previous knowledge of the existence of the new rifle due to his close relationship with Dearborn, we shall never know, but he would have jumped at the chance to obtain the new short rifle for his expedition. Once a rifle is built its lock is unique to that gun. 33-35. [3], A second contract rifle has been identified, the 1807 Contract Rifle, which has different specifications than the weapons of 1792 and 1794. It does not get any better than taking serial numbers and dates from existing specimens. They were often free to roam on the flanks and advance of an Army on the move, providing intelligence on the enemy. This would have required the application of an external (as now being applied to all guns) to denote their serviceability. His first known mention of the short rifle is in March of 1806. This is a very good theory since only Lewis had any real opportunity to field test the rifles and make such suggestions. It was from his post in Pittsburgh that he enlisted in Waynes Second Sub-Legion in May of 1795 and joined the Chosen Rifle Company of elite riflemen-sharpshooters commanded by William Clark. Late in the 1794 contract a US (later letters specified UNITED STATES) marking was requested but since none have ever surfaced with either marking visible on the exterior, it appears the rifles were completed before this could be implemented making it difficult today to identify these rifles. Breech markings on SN 15 rifle. The multiple guns we have uncovered with pre-December,1803 characteristics proves this point. Gump signature on M1792/94 contract rifle . An entry of October 22, 1800 Received of Israel Whalen, made by John Miles 58 Rifles complete (Indian Contract smooth bore guns). needed rifles like the one Lewis had procured for the expedition, and Before the United States military used standardized weapons with interchangeable parts, it bought rifles that are difficult to distinguish from their civilian equivalent. Set 50 minie' bullets 46.10 Reproduction and sale of historical muzzle-loading and breech-loading guns. these 1803 rifles was finished. 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. Almost all first contract rifles (1792) found their way into the hands of Waynes Legion and state troops between June and August at Fort Pitt. John Potts, another expedition member, was killed in this encounter. Lewis, July 1, 1806 ..set Shields at work to repair some of our guns which were out of order . Later, the halfstock model, with full under rib, came to be recognized as a kind . Washington, DC; GPO, 1903). The (48). There are some other detail pictures in Appendix I. I had no detail photos of the stock itself which is the purpose of this photo. Rolled cartridges were reserved for close order fire only. Ernie said to me we will build them but only if you are sure that is what they used. the 200 rifled carbines purchased by the British from Germany (Germanic Pattern 1776) and the 800 rifled carbines that followed (British Pattern 1776) based upon the Germanic rifle and the 100 plug guns (Ferguson Rifle). All the journals kept on the expedition used the new proper term short rifle when talking about this weapon. Lewiss expedition was undoubtedly the most difficult test trial that a newly designed weapon could undergo. 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). Lewiss men had no reason to double charge any of their rifles since the 2000 FPS achieved from the Model 1800 rifle with only a 33-inch barrel using the full 90 grain charge far exceeds that attainable by a long rifle with any type of maximum charge. It, being suitable for priming also, speeds up the loading process. The same technology of SDS powder that made these rifles possible was adopted for our first military short rifle. Only the upper ramrod pipe, either already mounted on completed rifles or those in stock as completed sub-assemblies, could not have been changed as explained in the text. 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. Clark resigned his commission six months after Lewis arrived (1796).(10). 25. Lighter charges also meant conservation of valuable powder. The octagon barrel of the 1792 long rifles could never suffered a 13% failure rate at the muzzle (or any other area), completely ruling out that type of firearm. We are extremely grateful to Mr. J. William Larues contribution of serial numbers gathered over a 25-year period from various sources (auctions, sales catalogs, collections and articles) and for his permission to print them with additional numbers of rifles we (and others) have located to date. the first was repared with a new lock, the old one having become unfit for uce; the second had the cock screw broken which was replaced by a duplicate which had been made prepared for the lock at Harpers ferry where she was manufactured. locks and spare lock parts for each rifle. To understand just how special these men were, one must understand the training provided along with what was expected of them while using the new Model 1803 rifle. The arsenal had no part in the 1792/94 contract rifles and none were ever stored there. Dearborn and Lewis probably discussed this interchangeability idea, leading to Dearborns instructions to Perkin to make whatever he needed. Harpers Ferry Park needs to rethink the role this new rifle played in history and give it a deserving place in their museum, after all, there is a much bigger and better story to tell the public. (Moulton, .op cit. Riflemen were given great latitude in the loading and firing of their assigned weapon. Sometime in 1804 breech contour became octagon rather than round (and continued to end of all production) to possibly reinforce this area. In 1792, Congress authorized the building of two national arsenals for the storage of arms and, in 1794, provided funds for the building of two armories for the manufacture of small arms. The more detailed information we can gather on 1803-06 rifles will help immensely. Lock plate from SN 15 rifle. Overall weights and lengths vary on the 1803-1806 series of rifles. Again, it is very important to recognize that Lewiss rifles had absolutely nothing to do with the upcoming 1803 military contract. Napoleon reestablished peace with us in 1799. Lewiss men were the first to use the new short rifle and no doubt practiced some of the same shooting principles incorporated into the 1812 Riflemans manual. The several close calls with Indians that almost cost him his life convinced him to quit the mountains in 1810, selling his gun, 6 traps and powder to a newcomer Thomas James. We hope the information in this article will enlighten all who admire and collect these first military rifles as well as assure they take their proper place in history for the role they played in a major event in early 19th century American history The Lewis and Clark Expedition. Harpers Ferry production capabilities in 1803 was more than enough to make his rifles in the allotted time. The book, by its own admission, was influenced by Colonel Von Ewalds company of Hessian Jaegers in our Revolution. He brought with him 15 of his most highly-skilled workmen. DuPont rifle powder (FFFg) made its appearance in the market in 1808, probably at the request of the U.S. Government since it is the same year the first rifle regiment was raised. The Harper's Ferry Model 1803 rifle was the first rifle made by an American armory. In the day when an average soldier could only dream of hitting an X on a wood block at 30 paces, a good rifleman in action was something to behold as he placed shot after shot into it. Right -1819 dated rifle, 36 barrel with 7 groove round bottom rifling with curved lands. In the February 4th letter the tumbler on the lock was to have a fly (to keep it from catching on the half cock) and a 4-piece patch box with button release. 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. According to the journals, Windsors rifle had burst on the morning of June 16,1806. Also, ALL 1803 and some early 1804 rifles carry Joseph Perkins inspector cartouche IP in a circle. [1] The rifles were to be delivered in units of 100 as quickly as possible. In many instances they were free from the normal camp and fatigue duties of the common soldier and were encouraged to practice with their rifles as often as possible. Moller makes an interesting statement regarding storekeeper George Ingalls (Schuylkill Arsenal) 1810 records in his chapter on the 1807 contract rifles and is worth quoting in its entirety The dates that the rifles were entered in the storekeepers records usually summarized several earlier deliveries and should not be construed as the actual dates of deliveries. is to manufacture. The arsenal produced nothing at that time requiring such sheet brass. Note the hollow rib on rifle SN 15. As it progresses it will become obvious as to which lock plate dates belong which guns by serial number blocks. That shows I came into this project with no preconceived notions as to what they used. From the available evidence, it seems that Dearborn was so impressed 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. There is no reason not to believe that Dearborn was very much aware of the new rifle ready for production and thus sent Lewis to Harpers Ferry to acquire them. (4) Stuart E. Brown, The Guns of Harpers Ferry, 1968, (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1994, P10; National Archives Collection, papers of the War Department; Coxe and Irvine Papers, RG92. Article by Edward R. Flanagan discussing the 1792 and 1807 contract rifles. Many other assembly numbers will be found hidden but are usually on the butt plate, side plate, trigger guard, patch box (and patch box release rod), ramrod thimbles (all three), and the tang. 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). Brass was a scarce commodity in the West of that day. This is explained in detail in the story. We can be grateful for his diligence and time expended on this subject. It was under these clouds of potential war that the short rifle was born. Ordway writes for August 17,1806 John Colter one of our party asks leave of our officers to go back with Mr Dixon a trapping, which permission was granted him so our officers Settled with him and fitted him out with powder lead and a great number of articles which compleated him for a trapping voiage of two years which they determined to Stay untill they make a fortune.. One of the items given to him was a canoe. But it wasn't until October 1803 that the first of The first rifle designed exclusively for the US Army was made at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, site of the infamous John Brown raid. climate, plants and animals, and the customs and languages of It is important to note the spacing of the numbers that all start the same distance away from the US cartouche which in most cases would not allow another number to be inserted between the cartouche and the first number. 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. The rifle is in almost relic condition, weathered, sun bleached and exhibiting an extremely hard life in the outdoors. The results were undeniable the bore has a 1 in 56 twist with .530 lands and .15 deep grooves. With that threat over, the American rifle battalions were dropped in the May 4, 1800 Army reorganization. This is probably not a coincidence. No rifles left Harpers Ferry without at least SOME of the requested alterations. If we take a closer look at riflemen of the period, knowing Lewiss secret gathering of supplies for a larger exploring party than first projected, the journals themselves and the structural aspect of the rifle, this theory can be dispelled. Caliber was .54 . The stock reinforcing band would have been added and the rear sight filed down to the barleycorn style but retaining the buckhorn lower sight profile. 98). Another goal was to find the mythical North West passage, a water route to the Pacific. Lewis specifically notes that it was Windsors shortened rifle that was traded for the longer short rifle, a fact confirmed by Clarks entry. Pipes were hard soldered to the rib before assembly so they would not release from the rib during the barrel mounting process. (38). <snip> Except its not "short". 441. 1054 (U) 1805 lock/ See Olson article, American Rifleman. This was common practice in riflemens ranks, allowing each individual to learn his own rifles shooting characteristics. May,1985. This weapon was the first rifle built the US Armory at Harpers Ferry. Lewis and Clark. It is the first style American issue military horn. This pipe placement was a common British characteristic found on the Ferguson rifle and the P76 series. Surprisingly we found that this rifle had been known since 1996 but, due to its relic condition, had never been properly examined in detail. Throughout this article, to avoid confusion, we use caliber for bore size and calibre for ball size (as the French did in their early writings).(14). Eventually it was bored smooth and converted to percussion, serving either an Indian or trapper for many, many years with crude sun decorations added at some point in its life. TYPE IV Military rifle with 33 barrels made in 1814 to mid-1815 (before the 36 barrel request). Documented cases of OCTAGON barrels bursting in any manner have yet to be encountered by the author. Throughout the journals the feminine noun is used often when referring to weapons, especially the air rifle. 265. Sawyer says it best: From time to time attempts have been made by army officers and others to reproduce the Harpers Ferry records from fragmentary outside sources and compile tables of the arms made there in the first quarter of the 19th century. This will clarify why these rifles were totally unsuitable for Lewiss needs. 9. (7) Sawyer, op. His position as Arsenal Superintendent gave him access to a large reference collection of various types of rifles stored at the arsenal, including samples of British rifles of the American Revolution with their proven technology using fine German rifle powder (SDS), all of which found its way into the new United States Army short rifle.(11). This rifle had been inletted for the brass stock ferrule, but the band found with the rifle was a modern brass replacement making it impossible to ascertain exactly when it was attempted. The highest serial numbered 1803 rifle we could confirm is 318. How could his records be so inaccurate? This combination allows the .520 calibre ball to be loaded with ease (as described in Dearborns letter) even when the steel rod gets slippery from use. Much conjecture has also surrounded the possibility of slings being attached to Lewiss rifles. The short rifle, in any form, could not mount a sling without an addition barrel lug for support, so we know for sure the 1800/03 series of rifles were never intended for use of a sling. *SN 359 is a good place to end for Pre-December,1803 manufactured rifles. The first observation of this document is the amazing detail of the rifle, right down to actual measurements. The style and placement of these markings varied considerably on the guns we inspected, from tiny detailed marks to big, crude scratches and cuts, so you must study them carefully. (28)(((26), Clark writes of the same incident we Caused all the men of the party who had Short guns to carry them on the portage for fear of Some attempt on the part of the nativs to rob the party.(27). We will let the reader draw their own conclusion based upon the information herein. GI#: 102236266. Our first Handbook for Riflemen, by William Duane, 1812. Vol 2, Pg. Considering the emergency under which these rifles were ordered, they probably were NOT budgeted for 1803. These are true mountain man or Indian decorations. Subject to a great deal of folklore, the Harpers Ferry Model 1803 rifle is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful guns ever produced. But some say that a one third of the weight of the ball is not too much; experience shows that to shoot at 250 to 300 yards, one fourth or a fifth is enough. . 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. This rifle will be discussed in greater detail in Chapter III and in the footnotes . The butt plate is of two-piece construction indicating hand fabrication before a mold was made to cast them for full military rifle production. Because the 1792's had already seen 8 to 10 years of hard frontier service and from a gunmakers point of veiw, to try and take 15 rifles by 17 different makers and make them all interchangable It may have been removed to make brass jewelry of the day. 2682 (C) (highest number confirmed). In an arti- cle in a similar vein that Tait published in Man At Arms,4he stated that several hundred of the Contract rifles were known to have been stored at Harpers Ferry in 1803. These assembly numbers are found on almost every part of the gun and are important when checking the originality of any rifle.

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