Springfield Model 1840 flintlock musket

The Springfield Model 1840 was a flintlock musket manufactured by the United States during the mid-19th century. 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 and Harpers Ferry armories and two independent contractors between 1840 and 1846 (D. Nippes and L. Pomeroy).[2]

Springfield Model 1840
Type	Musket
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1840–1865
Used by	United States Confederate States
Wars	American Indian Wars Mexican–American War American Civil War
Production history
Designed	1840
Manufacturer	Springfield Armory Harpers Ferry Armory D. Nippes L. Pomeroy
Produced	1840–1846
No. built	c. 30,000
Specifications
Mass	9.8 lb (4.4 kg)
Length	58.0 in (1,470 mm)
Barrel length	42.0 in (1,070 mm)
Cartridge	Paper cartridge, buck and ball/musket ball undersized (.65/16.510 mm) 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 1,200 ft/s (370 m/s)
Effective firing range	100 to 200 yards, in reality 50 to 75 yards
Maximum firing range	300 yards (275 m)[1]
Feed system	Muzzle-loaded
Sights	A front sight cast into the upper barrel band, rear sight (percussion/rifled conversion)

Springfield Model 1840 percussion conversion

The Model 1840 was a minor improvement over the Springfield Model 1835, and therefore was not dramatically different from the older musket. 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.[3]

The Model 1840 was the last flintlock musket produced at Springfield and Harpers Ferry armories. 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.