Springfield Model 1863
Rifled musket
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Springfield Model 1863 was a .58 caliber rifled musket manufactured by the Springfield Armory and independent contractors between 1863 and 1865.[1]
| Springfield Model 1863 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | Rifled musket |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1863–1865 |
| Used by | |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1863 |
| Manufacturer |
|
| Produced | 1863–1865 |
| No. built | c. 700,000 |
| Variants | Type I, Type II |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 9 lb (4.1 kg) |
| Length | 56 in (1,400 mm) |
| Barrel length | 40.0 in (1,020 mm) |
| Cartridge | Paper cartridge, Minié ball undersized to reduce the effects of powder fouling and for the skirt to get grip of the grooves when firing |
| Caliber | .58 (14.7320 mm) |
| Action | Percussion lock |
| Rate of fire | User dependent; usually 2 to 4 rounds per minute |
| Muzzle velocity | 1,000 ft/s (300 m/s) to 1,400 ft/s (430 m/s) |
| Effective firing range | 200 to 400 yd (180 to 370 m) |
| Maximum firing range | 800 to 1,000 yd (730 to 910 m) |
| Feed system | Muzzle-loaded |
| Sights | Flip-up leaf sights |
The Model 1863 was only a minor improvement over the Springfield Model 1861. As such, it is sometimes classified as just a variant of the Model 1861. The Model 1861, with all of its variants, was the most commonly used longarm in the American Civil War, with over 1,000,000 manufactured.[2]
The Model 1863 also has the distinction of being the last muzzle-loading longarm produced by the Springfield Armory. It fired via percussion lock, which was much more reliable and weather resistant compared to the older flintlock muskets.[1]
The Model 1863 was produced in two variants. The Type I eliminated the band springs and replaced the flat barrel bands with oval clamping bands. It also featured a new ramrod, a case-hardened lock, a new hammer, and a redesigned bolster (percussion chamber). Several of these modifications were based upon Colt's contract Model 1861, known as the "Colt special". 273,265 Type I variants were manufactured in 1863.[1]
The Type II is sometimes referred to as the Model 1864, but is more commonly referred to as just a variant of the Model 1863. This version re-introduced band springs, replaced the clamping bands with solid oval bands, and replaced the three leaf rear sights with single leaf sight. A total of 255,040 of these were manufactured from 1864 to 1865.[3]
By the end of the Civil War, muzzle-loading rifles and muskets were considered obsolete. In the years following the Civil War, many Model 1863 rifled muskets were converted into breech-loading rifles. The breech-loading weapons increased the rate of fire from three to four rounds per minute to eight to ten rounds per minute. The Model 1863 could be converted to breech-loading for about $5, at a time when a new rifle would cost about $15.[4]
The conversion of Model 1863 rifled muskets therefore represented a significant cost savings to the U.S. military. The military adopted various models like the Springfield Model 1865, Springfield Model 1866, Springfield Model 1868, and Springfield model 1870.[5]
See also
