Springfield Model 1835

The Springfield Model 1835 was a .69 caliber flintlock musket manufactured in the United States during the early to mid-19th century. The Model 1835 was manufactured by the Springfield and Harpers Ferry armories and also produced by other independent contractors. It was a smoothbore musket and fired a .69 caliber round ball. The Model 1835 is sometimes considered to be its own model number, but is often considered to be just a continuation of the Springfield Model 1816 designated as the Type III. The barrel was slightly longer than the Model 1816 and the total weight of the Model 1835 was slightly higher, but otherwise the Model 1835 was very similar to the Model 1816. Even though the final product was very similar, significantly different manufacturing techniques were used in the creation of the Model 1835, and a great deal of emphasis was placed on parts interchangeability. This paved the way for the Springfield Model 1842 which was the first musket to be constructed of all interchangeable parts. Most Model 1835 muskets had their flintlocks converted to percussion locks during the 1840s and 1850s as it was more reliable and weather resistant. Some of the Model 1835 muskets also had their barrels rifled during this same period to fire the newly designed Minié ball, if the barrel was deemed thick enough to be structurally sound. However, the greatly increased breech pressure created by the new expanding round was too strong for the conversion process and older musket barrels to withstand and rifled Model 1835 muskets were issued standard .69 caliber round balls instead. The Model 1835 was used in the Mexican–American War. The Model 1835 was also used by both the Union and the Confederates during the American Civil War.

Musket

Springfield Model 1835
Type	Musket
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1835–1865
Used by	United States Confederate States
Wars	American Indian Wars Mexican–American War American Civil War
Production history
Designed	1835
Manufacturer	Springfield Armory Harpers Ferry Armory Various private contractors
Produced	1835–1840
Specifications
Mass	10 lb (4.5 kg)
Length	58.0 in (1,470 mm)
Barrel length	42.0 in (1,070 mm)
Cartridge	Paper cartridge, buck and ball/musket ball (.65/16.510 mm) undersized to reduce the effects of powder fouling
Caliber	.69 in (17.526 mm)
Action	Flintlock/percussion lock (conversion)
Rate of fire	User dependent; usually 2 to 3 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity	1,000 ft/s (300 m/s) to 1,400 ft/s (430 m/s)
Effective firing range	50 to 100 yd (46 to 91 m) (smoothbore)[1] 200 to 400 yd (180 to 370 m) (rifled)[1]
Maximum firing range	150 to 300 yd (140 to 270 m) (smoothbore)[1] 800 to 1,000 yd (730 to 910 m) (rifled)[1]
Feed system	Muzzle-loaded
Sights	A front sight cast into the upper barrel band, rear sight (percussion/rifled conversion)

The Springfield Model 1835 was a .69 caliber flintlock musket manufactured in the United States during the early to mid-19th century.

The Model 1835 was manufactured by the Springfield and Harpers Ferry armories and also produced by other independent contractors. It was a smoothbore musket and fired a .69 caliber round ball.^[2]

The Model 1835 is sometimes considered to be its own model number, but is often considered to be just a continuation of the Springfield Model 1816 designated as the Type III.^[2]

The barrel was slightly longer than the Model 1816 and the total weight of the Model 1835 was slightly higher, but otherwise the Model 1835 was very similar to the Model 1816.^[2]

Even though the final product was very similar, significantly different manufacturing techniques were used in the creation of the Model 1835, and a great deal of emphasis was placed on parts interchangeability. This paved the way for the Springfield Model 1842 which was the first musket to be constructed of all interchangeable parts.^[3]

Most Model 1835 muskets had their flintlocks converted to percussion locks during the 1840s and 1850s as it was more reliable and weather resistant. Some of the Model 1835 muskets also had their barrels rifled during this same period to fire the newly designed Minié ball, if the barrel was deemed thick enough to be structurally sound. However, the greatly increased breech pressure created by the new expanding round was too strong for the conversion process and older musket barrels to withstand and rifled Model 1835 muskets were issued standard .69 caliber round balls instead.^[2]

The Model 1835 was used in the Mexican–American War.^[4] The Model 1835 was also used by both the Union and the Confederates during the American Civil War.^[5]

See also

[edit]

• Springfield musket

Preceded by Springfield Model 1822

United States military musket 1835-1840

Succeeded by Springfield Model 1840

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Springfield Model 1835.

References

[edit]

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Stanage, Justin (2000). "The Rifle-Musket vs. The Smoothbore Musket, a Comparison of the Effectiveness of the Two Types of Weapons Primarily at Short Ranges". IU South Bend Undergraduate Research Journal. 3: 84–89.
2. ^ ^{a b c d} "Guns on the Early Frontiers" by Carl P. Russell, Published by U of Nebraska Press, 1980
3. ^ Harpers Ferry Armory and the New Technology, by Merritt Roe Smith, Published by Cornell University Press, 1980
4. ^ Civil War Leadership and Mexican War Experience, by Kevin Dougherty, Published by University Press of Mississippi, 2007
5. ^ The Civil War Book of Lists, by Combined Books (Firm), Published by Da Capo Press, 1992

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