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Title:	MUSKET -  U.S. MUSKET MODEL 1840 SPRINGFIELD ARMORY FLINTLOCK .69
Maker/Manufacturer:	SPRINGFIELD ARMORY
Date of Manufacture:	1842
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 5398
Measurements:	OL:147.3CM 58" BL:106.6CM 42" 10.25 lbs.

Object Description:

U.S. MUSKET MODEL 1840 SPRINGFIELD ARMORY FLINTLOCK .69
Manufactured by Springfield Armory, Springfield, Ma. in 1842 - Standard Model 1840 single-shot, muzzleloading, flintlock musket. Iron furniture, bright finish. Three bands with upper band double-strapped. Two lower bands are retained by band springs forward of the bands. The upper band is retained by band spring to the rear of the band. Brass blade front sight on upper strap. Lower sling swivel is riveted to the forward end of the trigger guard bow. Bayonet lug moved below barrel approximately 1 1/8" from muzzle. Pronounced comb on buttstock. A steel ramrod with an elongated, trumpet shaped head is seated against an iron stop at the bottom of the ramrod channel, held in place by a spring. Weapon weighs approximately 10.25 lbs. Hammer screw is broken off in tumbler. Weapon manufactured at Springfield Armory from September of 1839 to June, 1844. Approximately 30,421 of these were manufactured, with close to 30,000 converted to percussion. This is one of 9,720 weapons manufactured at Springfield Armory in 1842. This was the last of the flintlock muskets manufactured at Springfield.

Markings:
Lock: SPRING/FIELD/1842 rear of cock. Eagle/US forward of cock.
Barrel: V/P Eaglehead.
Barrel tang:1842.
Buttplate: US.
Triggerguard: R.
Stock: Inspector's cartouche in oval left side. S/JT near trigger guard.

1909 Catalog #2066 - "Musket. Sp'f'd Smooth Bore Flintlock Musket. Cal. .69. M'f'd'. 1842."

Notes: "The Model 1840 Flint Lock Musket has been the Subject of considerable controversy among collectors of arms, and as they are exceedingly scarce there has not been but little opportunity to check up the details, and as a matter of fact it is some times asserted that this was not a distinct model at all, but a modification of the so-called Model 1822.
The U.S. Ordnance Manual of 1841, which manual, however, is about as scarce as the gun, gives us detailed description of this arm, and in addition to this there is some ordnance office correspondence of interest.
The following table, taken from Ordnance Reports, will give an idea of the number made at the Springfield Armory:
Sep. 30, 1839 - Sep. 30, 1840 - 5,267 flint Model 1822.
Sep. 30, 1839 - Sep. 30, 1840 - 700 flint Model 1840.
Oct. 1, 1840 - Mar. 31, 1841 - 4,500 flint Model 1840.
Apr. 1, 1841 - Sep. 30, 1841 - 6,200 flint Model 1840.
Sep. 30, 1841 - Sep. 30, 1842 - 9,720 flint Model 1840.
Sep. 30, 1842 - Sep. 30, 1843 - 4,600 flint Model 1840.
Sep. 30, 1843 - Sep.. 30, 1844 - 4,401 flint Model 1840.
Sep. 30, 1843 - Sep.. 30, 1844 - 3, 200 perc. Model 1842.
Or a total of 30,421 flint lock Models 1840 made at Springfield Armory. No Model 1840 flint locks were ever made at Harper's Ferry. Arms made at Harper's Ferry are as follows:
Apr. 1, 1841 - Sep. 30, 1841 - 4,850 flint Model 1822.
Oct. 1, 1841 - Sep. 30, 1842 - 6,576 flint Model 1822.
Oct. 1, 1842 - Sep. 30, 1843 - 3,105 flint Model 1822.
Oct. 1, 1843 - Sep. 30, 1844 - 608 flint Model 1822.
Oct. 1, 1844 - June 30, 1845 - 2,225 perc. Model 1842.
Thus is was not until the latter part of 1844 that percussion muskets were made at the armories. At Springfield Armory for the year ended June 30, 1851, 26, 841 muskets Model 1840 were altered to percussion, and this accounts for most of the 30,421 Model 1840 muskets.
The models for this arm were probably made in 1835 but it is of course hard to explain the lapse of time in adopting it, except for the fact that the percussion system was being rapidly developed, and it was a question as to whether a new model of flint arm was justified, and this was finally decided upon the basis that the new model could readily be changed to the new system.
In the government collection at West Point there is one of these model arms having all parts marked with the customary model marks and including on the barrel MODEL MUSKET. This arm is dated 1835 and it has been carefully checked in all details with a musket dated 1843 in the same collection.
The known contractors of this arm are:
L. POMEROD. NIPPES, MILL CREEK, PA.,
and the earliest date appearing on the Pomeroy is 1840 while the latest date appearing on the Nipps in 1847, thus indicating that this model was made by contract some three years after they were discontinued at Springfield.
A letter dated November 29, 1839 from the Chief of Ordnance to the Secretary of War refers to this model as follows:
'The manufacture of the new model will be commenced at the national armories early next year, a large proportion of the necessary tools and machinery having been provided.
The manufacture of muskets according to the new model has been successfully established at both the national armories and at some private armories. The substitution hereafter of percussion in place of flint locks, which is becoming general in Europe, will render the arm as nearly perfect as can be attained; and, judging from the specimen of foreign arms of the most improved patterns, recently imported, decidedly superior to any arms of foreign manufacture.'
The above quotation would indicate that this model was to be produced at both Springfield and Harper's Ferry, but subsequent records indicate that Harper's Ferry did not produce any but the model pieces.
This model of arm was not produced on the complete interchangeable plan that came into use with the first percussion model, but the system of manufacture had been so perfected that all parts will interchange with but very little rifling.
U.S. MODEL 1840
CALIBER .69 SMOOTH-BORE FLINT LOCK MUSKET. THE BARREL is 42 inches long with a bayonet stud 1 1/8 inches from the end of the barrel and located on the bottom of the barrel. The breech plug tang is 2 inches long. The barrel is .85 inches in diameter at the muzzle, having been made .3 inches heavier than the previous models to afford better rifling at a later date. Marked at breech V-P eagle head and dated 1840 and also marked MODEL
THE STOCK is of black walnut 54 3/4 inches long, and has a pronounced comb 3/4 inches high, 9 inches from the butt. The grip is 1 3/4 inches by 1 1/2 inches in diameter and does not extend into the stock, as in the earlier models that had combs.
THE FURNITURE. All mountings are of iron. The bottom band is 9/16 inches wide on top and 1 1/16 inches wide on the bottom, and is retained by a band spring 2 3/8 inches long forward of the band. The middle band is 9/16 inches wide and carries the top sling swivel which has a sling opening of 1 9/16 inches, being wider than on previous models, and the band spring 2 3/8 inches long is forward of the band. The top band has two rings, the top ring being 9/16 inches wide carries a brass knife blade sight, and the lower ring is 1/2 inches wide. The total length of the band is 3 inches with the body cut out in a scroll between two rings. The ramrod throat is somewhat more funnel shaped than on previous models. The band retainer 2 3/4 inches long, to the rear of the band and provided with a lug to engage a hole in the band. The butt plate is 4 1/2 inches long and much flatter than on the earlier models, it is marked on tang U.S.M. The trigger plate is 9 1/2 inches long attached by two screws, and the trigger guard is separate and the threaded shanks pass through the plate and are provided with round nuts. The trigger is carried on a projectile lug that is part of the guard plate. The rear sling swivel is carried on the trigger guard, and is of the same width as the forward swivel. The ramrod is of different shape than previous models, having a long trumpet shaped end, and is held in place by a 'spring' or 'spoon' located in the lower end of the channel, which rod channel is also provided with a metal stop, both of the letter features being changes from the proceeding model.
THE LOCK is 6 1/4 inches long by 1 3/16 inches wide with the rear portion rounded and more pointed than previous models. The cock is rounded and is 7/16 inches thick, and provided with a round hole 1/2 inch diameter thus being entirely different than any previous model. The brass pan lies horizontal with the barrel and hTHE BAYONET socket is 2 5/8 inches long, and is provided with a clamping band. The blade is 18 inches long and is marked US. Its weight is 10 3/8 ounces.
THE TOTAL length of the arm from butt to muzzle is 57.8 inches, with bayonet attached 75.8 inches. Weight complete without bayonet 10 pounds 8 ounces.
As before mentioned, this arm has been the subject of considerable controversy among collectors, and a greater part of the forgoing text was based on the specimen then on hand, a regular issue of this model written in the summer of 1928. Since then, the present specimen has been acquired and it is a MODEL PIECE, so marked on the barrel with the date 1840. In addition every piece of the entire arm is marked USM, and the screws are all stamped M.
(The description is for the USM 1840 currently on display at Chickamauga-Chattanooga NMP (CHCH 843) as part of the Fuller Gun Collection).
The definitely establishes it as a U.S. Model 1840, but it is interesting to cite some of the ideas that have prevailed concerning it. Major Charles C. Foster in the American Riflemen for February 15, 1924 wrote: 'The so-called model of 1840 was simly a model 1822 flint lock converted to percussion and then rifled and sighted for the Minie bullet, recently invented in France.;
In the March issue of the magazine Francis W. Breuil call attention to the outstanding differences between the model 1822 and the model 1840, and describes a lock in his collection marked HARPERS FERRY 1835 and USM on all parts. He then describes three model 1840 muskets, one Springfield and two Nippes, and goes into the apparent confusion that exists in the early Arms Manuals.
Mr. L.D. Saterlye in the next issue of the magazine gives the dates and numbers of model 1840 muskets made at Springfield, and also the number of them converted to percussion at that armory in 1851. He concludes the article with:
'Mr. Bruil's reference to locks stamped USM 1835 is interesting, but the date is puzzling. This may refer to the twenty-four models made at Harpers Ferry in 1839, full particulars of which may be found in an article in the June 1884 number of the MAGAZINE OF AMERICAN HISTORY, pp. 521-533, entitled 'The Rise of a Mechanical Ideal,' by Chas. H. Fitch.
Major Hicks in his Notes On U.S. Ordnance, published in 1946 goes into great detail covering the actions of the different boards back to 1831 which seems to sup up the fact that Models were marked 1835, but arms of this model never went into production. As summed up in Whitney Firearms -
'This is a model musket that had its inception in 1831 when a Board of Officers was appointed to establish a new model for muskets. After numerous meetings and after securing samples of the French musket made in 1822 they recommended that it be adopted as the model for the service, with but slight alterations, and in 1835 Harper's Ferry made the models marked MODEL 1835.
The whole matter for some reason dropped and not again taken up until 1838, when after some more correspondence orders were issued to Springfield in 1839 to prepare to go into production on this model, but in 1840 another Ordnance Board had suggested some changes in the model, and with these changes it was refered to as MODEL 1840. These changes consisted in making the barrel slightly shorter and the stocks slightly longer, so that the original length of the arm was maintained, and the FINGER RIDGES on the guard plate were omitted.
Since the model was suggested and of which the patterns were made in 1835 never went into production, and as the later Ordnance Board used in only to arrive at what they considered a proper model, and did this in 1840, it seems that the proper designation of this arm should be MODEL 1840.
New patterns were made and marked MODEL 1840. Springfield manufactured them from 1840 to 1844,
"The new type musket, finally issued as the model of 1840, was still of the old flint-lock type, but its greatly improved interchangeability of parts made its production a notable contribution to American small arms, and it was to lend itself with only minor changes to the manufacture of the percussion-lock model of 1842....Where the old musket had cost $11.69 to turn out, the first 1840 models cost $17.44. Some of this difference was due not only to the expense of tooling and labor costs, but to the substitution of steel for iron in the lock screws." - Constance Green

The designers of the M1840 flintlock musket anticipated that the arm would eventually be rifled and made the barrel at the muzzle end heavier than earlier muskets, in order to facilitate the job of rifling. Today, it is rarely encountered in its original flint. Of the 30,421 made at Springfield from September of 1839 to June of 1844, 26,841 were converted to percussion between 1849 and 1851. Later, just prior to the Civil War, most of the 3,580 remaining were also converted.

LOAN HISTORY OF THIS WEAPON:
Army #0039 - Loaned to Commanding Officer, Springfield Armory, on 8 April 1940.
Army #0039 - Loaned to Major Thomas O. Rose, Headquarters, Military Personnel Procurement Service. N.Y., N.Y. Loan returned on 8 February 1957.

References:
Ball, Robert W.D. SPRINGFIELD ARMORY: SHOULDER WEAPONS 1795-1968. Antique Trader Book. Norfolk, Va. 1997.
Clark, David C. Ed. ARMS FOR THE NATION. Scott A. Duff. Export, Pa. 1992.
Flayderman, Norm. FLAYDERMAN'S GUIDE TO ANTIQUE AMERICAN FIREARMS...AND THEIR VALUES. 6th Ed. DBI Books Inc. Northbrook, Il. 1994.
Gluckman, Arcadi. IDENTIFYING OLD U.S. MUSKETS, RIFLES AND CARBINES. Stackpole Books. Harrisburg, Pa. 1965.
Hartzler, Daniel D. & James B. Whisker. THE NORTHERN ARMORY: THE UNITED STATES ARMORY AT SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, 1795-1859. Old Bedford Village Press. Bedford, Pa. 1996.
Madaus, H. Michael. THE WARNER COLLECTOR'S GUIDE TO AMERICAN LONGARMS. Warner Books. N.Y., N.Y. 1981.
Moeller, George D. AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS. VOL. 2. University Press of Colorado. Niwot, Co. 1993.
Reilly, Robert. U.S. MARTIAL FLINTLOCKS. Andrew Mowbray Inc. Lincoln, R.I. 1986.