He brought with him 15 of his most highly-skilled workmen. He was the first arms writer to recognize the glaring errors in Bomfords reports and the first to use the correct Model 1800 Rifle designation. Surprisingly we found that this rifle had been known since 1996 but, due to its relic condition, had never been properly examined in detail. he was much pleased with the exchange and shot his gun several times; he shoots very well for an inexperienced person.(32). 265. Whelan seems to be associated with Schuylkill arsenal where some of the 1792/4 contract guns were sent. cit., Vol 1, Pgs. It rules out the Model 1803, which didn't enter production until the fall. That shows I came into this project with no preconceived notions as to what they used. 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 highly skilled work force was in place when Lewis arrived on the scene in March of 1803. Harpers Ferry Model 1803 - The US Army's First Rifle rivers, animals, and peoples. It is interesting to note that the ball was to be loaded with ease. Lewis and Clark - U.S. Army Center of Military History There are no explanations for these omissions. completed M1792 rifles were received from various locations, but From the above instructions, the 100-grain service charge (10 in the pan and 90 in the bore used when shooting from the ranks) could be modified by each rifleman until optimum rifle performance was reached. Each rifle was still an individually produced weapon with no interchangeability of parts. The records at the arsenal are not exact on the matter, as it appears the first 1803 prototype was produced six months after Lewis departed Maryland. from Lewis to Jefferson, it appears that Lewis had the arsenal shorten The need for these rifles was so urgent that all guns were accepted despite many shortcomings, regardless if they were shipped directly to the troops or to an arsenal. Several ribs, previously mounted to finished barrels, let loose during subsequent work. Two original guns have surfaced that are probably authentic to Lewis and Clark's journey, though the Lewis and Clark gun were likely prototypes. From our experience, the lower numbered guns (1803 & 1804 dated) were the most mismatched in terms of serial number ranges and lock date. Serial numbers 15, 94, 214 and 359 are the only rifles we found to date retaining the straight upper ramrod pipe confirming they are PRE-DECEMBER 1803 production. a .45 caliber ball would shoot well with 45 grains of rifle powder. Harpers Ferry M1803; 1792 contract rifle for the earlier process for producing firearms; M1817 common rifle; Rifles in the American Civil War; References 30. The Harper's Ferry Rifle With stocks of the 1792 Contract Rifle (see above) growing pretty thin, and the musket revealing the weaknesses in its maximum 75-yard range for aimed shots, the. This is another fact we uncovered in our research that confirms his production records are incorrect. Also, of interest is that the 8 pounds of lead in each cannister would cast 220 .520 calibre balls (using the 218 grains per ball figure) and the 4 pounds of powder would make 220 100-grain charges (10 for priming, 90 in the chamber). All second contract guns were delivered by November of 1794. All military M1803 rifles used a solid rib for a better soft solder adhering surface. After examining a prototype rifle, he gave approval on February 4th, 1792 for the first small arm designed specifically for the Army of the United States. 1803 dated rifles made before December of 1803 fall into this category. Henry Rifle Lee Repeating Rifle Marlin Lever Actions Military Longarms Pre-1816 Muskets 1st Model Brown Bess 2nd & 3rd Model Brown Bess Muskets Charleville Musket M1803 and M1814 Rifles M1816 Musket M1817 Common Rifle M1835 US Musket Austrian CW Rifle M1841 US Rifle (Mississippi Rifle) M1842 Springfield Musket M1851 US Cadet and M1847 US Musketoon ABOVE: The buckhorn style rear sight found on Lewiss 15 rifles and ALL pre-December, 1803 manufactured rifles. The most notable and significant difference in the Serial Number 15 rifle is the STRAIGHT upper ramrod thimble, indicating production prior to Dearborns December changes. sum of $2,500.00 to fund a small expeditionary group, known as the Confederate Victory. It is important to note that all parts carry the same batch number which means the gun is a 100% correct assembly from the arsenal. Lewis was also no stranger to the use of rifles. We have seen several rifles with the first number removed (leaving a wide space) to make them into a low serial numbered rifle. Could it have been one of the rifles that were shortened and given to the Indians? (37), The short rifle was Americas first experiment with fine powders and high pressures. 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. A letter from Secretary Dearborn, written on Lewiss behalf and addressed to Arsenal Superintendent Perkin, dated March 14, 1803 states You will be pleased to make such arms & iron work, as requested by the Bearer Captain Meriwether Lewis and to have them completed with the least possible delay.(8). All Harpers Ferry series rifles are .520 calibre (ball) with .530 bore. The rifles taken on the expedition are repeatedly referred to as "short rifles". Perhaps some of the journals were lost. It is not a simple story and requires a basic understanding of what was happening in the fledgling United States during this precarious time in our history including very real threats from abroad to our security, by France, Spain and Great Britain, with all demanding that our country keep up with world firearms technology to counter these threats. An entry of October 22, 1800 Received of Israel Whalen, made by John Miles 58 Rifles complete (Indian Contract smooth bore guns). This would allow the round to grip the barrel's rifling as the weapon was fired, and the rifling would impart a spin onto the round which would . (43) Duponts rifle powder, based upon a French formula lacked the quality saltpeter found in English powder, so it did not perform quite as well as the previously imported English rifle powder, but at least it cut our dependence on imported rifle powder. So, the first thing I did was get the Moulton 13 volume set on his expedition (borrowed it from Phil Schreier on a permanent type loan) and spend one whole summer reading all of them cover to cover. Barrel makers seldom marked their product in this period and if they did (as in later periods), it was on the bottom of the barrel. A second contract rifle has been identified, the 1807 Contract Rifle, which has different specifications than the weapons of 1792 and 1794. 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. The stock displays four sun shaped inlays filled with pine resin that can be seen in the above stock photos. Whelen also took delivery of 100 rifles from John Miles during April-June 1800 for an order placed by Tench Francis in Feb of 1800 (hinting that he was Franciss agent and thus regularly inspected guns). His first known mention of the short rifle is in March of 1806. It was under these clouds of potential war that the short rifle was born. By that time, Lewis and Clark were leaving Don is a wealth of knowledge, and his kits are top quality. NO serial numbers. letter to Perkin supports this, especially when Dearborn states that About 5/8 has been removed from the muzzle of the barrel (perhaps it too had split). *SN 359 is a good place to end for Pre-December,1803 manufactured rifles. Bomford also shows rifles made in 1807 but from our research and collected data, not one rifle has been found with an 1807 dated lock date. of powder with 2 balls. The fiscal year 1804 was the same as the calendar year until 1838, so storekeeper production reporting of new weapons built in 1803 may simply be the result of Harpers Ferry exceeding their new production budget for the year 1803, forcing them to delay production reporting until fiscal year 1804. (39), Lewis, February 1, 1806(Ft Clatsop, Oregon) To day we opened and examined all our ammunition, which had been secured in leaden canesters. (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. All rifles that I have examined that come even close to a 1792/94 contract rifle have set triggers which was fairly common on all civilian long rifles of this period but not many with a fly. the first had a Cock screw broken which was replaced by a duplicate which had been prepared for the Locks at Harpers, Ferry; the Second repared with a new Lock, the old one becoming unfit for use.(25). The Model 1800-1819 series of rifles are one of the most tampered with rifles in the collecting world. [2], Before their exploratory trip, the Lewis and Clark Expedition obtained rifles from the Harper's Ferry Arsenal. John Potts, another expedition member, was killed in this encounter. If we look at those preparations, we can easily see that he was equipping for a larger expedition than approved by Congress. 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. Curly Maple 1/2 Stock Grd IV (85-100% Curl - $195) Curly Maple 1/2 StockGrd V ( Finest Curl - $260) Cherry ($135) Walnut ( $135) Some believe that the contract rifles Lewis had modified for the expedition All 1814 and into about mid-production 1815 used left over barrels from the first production run. Corps of Discovery, whose mission was to find and map a Hawken Fullstock Rifle, Pecatonica River Long Rifle Supply from Congress for an amazing endeavor. cit., pg. Lewis wrote Jefferson on April 20, 1803 from Lancaster, Pa., explaining the difficulty encountered in building the iron frame of the portable boat, and goes on to note, My Rifles, Tomahawks & Knives are preparing at Harpers Ferry, and are already in a state of forwardness that leaves me little doubt of their being in readiness in due time.(12). It is also possible that contract rifles of 1794 were modified at the arsenal at Harper's Ferry, by shortening the barrels and reboring and rerifling them to .54 caliber. At Harpers Ferry, Captain Meriwether Lewis obtained 15 rifles built under contract for the United States Army in 1792 and 1794. It was obvious that we were copying a British style weapon when designing the new M1800 rifles. In this process he was to make contact and befriend as many Indian tribes as possible who inhabited these areas with the intended goal of establishing trade relations that would allow peaceful expansion to the extreme western borders of the new United States. It is time to update the history of these rifles not reinvent it. There was another good reason to increase the size of the party in secret. That answer emerges clearly if we put the smaller pieces of the puzzle into one large finished picture. Over time they were issued to a variety of states and even Indian tribes (as many as 600 to the Chickasaws during the 1793/94 period), leaving 911 rifles in stores on October 1,1802. The War Ministry secretary, Timothy Pickering, suggested the French musket to start production with, such to use some of the parts stocked in the Springfield's warehouses since 1794 assigned as deposits and gunsmithing for the guns repairs. (Moulton, .op cit. The Short Rifle of the Lewis & Clark journals. [4] The Army refers to modern speculation that the changes Lewis had made to the contract rifles (adding sling swivels, shortening the barrel further to 33-36 inches and reboring them to a larger caliber),[4] led to the design of the US Model 1803, created six months later.[4]. is to manufacture. Long-Barreled Air Rifle. As Purveyor of Public Stores during the Lewis and Clark expedition, Whelan played a major role in obtaining supplies for Lewis as noted throughout Lewiss documents. John Collins, who was flogged for being AWOL and stealing whiskey, returned West with William Ashleys 1823 expedition, being killed in a battle with the Arikaras that same year. Dearborn undoubtedly had a new Model 1800 in his hands in order to make the above changes. The very nature of this fine powder, being sensitive to moisture, may have been the reason Lewis made 52 eight-pound water-proof lead containers, each of which held 4 pounds of powder with the lead to be cast into bullets when empty. Lewis, U.S.A., Early U.S. Military Riflemen, (The American Rifleman, December,1958), Pg. 1,477 rifles were completed in 1792. Seventeen gunsmiths delivered 2,000 rifles by November 1794. Both entries show that the locks and their components were indeed interchangeable. It would just load easier and probably had little effect upon accuracy. The .520 calibre round ball also meets Dearborns specification for 30 balls to the pound. These were all inspected by Joseph Perkin and carry his IP in circle as a final inspection mark in the wood opposite the lock. of the Harpers Ferry Arsenal Joseph Perkin, and the 8 July 1803 letter Early production retained the heptagonal rifling if using a pre-rifled barrel from old stock, later production (about mid 1815) used the new round bottomed rifling if using a new made barrel. (37) Just for a comparison to a later 19th century rifle, the Model 1895 Winchester rifle in .405 caliber firing a 300-grain bullet produced a muzzle velocity of 2,000 FPS with 3,000 foot-pounds of energy. Overcharging was common practice in those days, especially by Indians who were unaware of the effects of such heavy charges. rifles were manufactured at Harpers Ferry and the rifles and extra parts were made all interchangeable. This rifle will be discussed in greater detail in Chapter III and in the footnotes . Barrel profiles were round at the breech for all 1803 dated rifles. 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. With that threat over, the American rifle battalions were dropped in the May 4, 1800 Army reorganization. PDF U.S. Model 1803 Prototype Rifle 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. 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. Thus, the term short rifle, used by Dearborn in Harpers Ferry records and Lewiss journals, can only be viewed as the proper name for the Model 1800 rifles. It has also been generally agreed that a lot of imported (factory purchased) locks were used on these rifles to speed up the process. 2. 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. Lewis, July 1, 1806 ..set Shields at work to repair some of our guns which were out of order . If we consider that the .525 ball weighs in at 219 grains, a charge of about 55 grains (1/4 the ball weight) would be enough for accurate shooting (man sized target) out to 300 yards. 98). (17) Many collectors contributed information on existing military contract short rifles in the 1803 & 1804 range. It is held that they would be safe if they were 3 feet 2 inches; and if so much barrel, rod and stock were added, and 14 1/2. Guns produced before Dearborns changes of December 1803 used these pipe. The center pipe was not placed at the center of the rib but about 2 forward of center. (21) The fact that he shot the rifles at the arsenal also hints that they were of a totally different design than the M1792 long rifle with which he was already well familiar. [1] The 1792 contract specified rifles with a 44-1/2 inch long barrel in .47 caliber. 127-135; and Francis B. Heitman, Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, from its Organization, September 29,1789, to March 2, 1903, 2 Volumes. It, being suitable for priming also, speeds up the loading process. Lower photo: 1803 dated rifle SN 15 with its straight pipe. Lewis wrote to Jefferson on July 7, 1803: Yesterday I shot my guns and examined the several articles which had been manufactured for me at this place; they appear to be well executed. 15,707 rifles were produced on this contract. needed rifles like the one Lewis had procured for the expedition, and Bullet molds had to be supplied with each rifle, requiring the soldier to cast his own balls for his rifle and work up a proper powder charge with whatever powder was supplied at any given time. This entry is significant in that it was made 4 months before any rifles were shortened by Shields. He wisely intended to start the entire expedition with as much new, reliable gear as he could obtain, being unsure of the condition of the accouterments in the hands of the soldiers posted at the frontier posts. Our serial number research shows that all first production military contract rifles (4000) were completed by the end of 1806 (none have been recorded to date with an 1807 dated lock plate), for a total of 4015 and possibly 4 early (Ca. What becomes immediately apparent is that Dearborn is describing an existing rifle, in hand, in order to have such a detailed description for Perkin. The condition of the rifle indicates very hard, long use. May,1985. It may have been removed to make brass jewelry of the day. 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. Judge Thomas Rodney, who met Lewis on his way West and accurately described Lewiss airgun, was appointed by Jefferson to settle all land disputes in the new Louisiana Territory, especially those holding previous legitimate land titles. The stock has many wood fillers (of various types and age) applied over the years for preservation with the patch box replaced by a wood covering held in place by handmade square cut nails. If fired (used) it will display slight erosion around the bushing. Standardization of calibers was something Lewis certainly calculated when settling on only two types of weapons muskets and short rifles, requiring only two caliber balls. Hopefully more confirmed (C) 1803 dated rifles can be found and examined. 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. These glaring errors send up big red flags for his yearly production records too many to be ignored. (36), Barrel failures are one of the most significant clues left to us as to the type of rifles carried by Lewiss men. A wax plug was driven the full length of the barrel and then measured for the true size. he should weigh his powder, and note the difference of effect with a greater or less quantity of powder, and how far the quantity of powder affects the shot.. There were no .530 calibre U.S. military round ball molds (for a .54 bore) to be found. . Having lost his kit to the Indians several times, his Model 1800 rifle ended up in Indian hands early in his trapping career. The multiple guns we have uncovered with pre-December,1803 characteristics proves this point. The arsenal produced nothing at that time requiring such sheet brass. 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. A thread discussing the contract guns. 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. Henry Leman built a classic plains rifle, and Henry Deringer (of pocket pistol fame) also built sturdy rifles for the Fur Trade. 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. Left 1804 dated rifle, 33 barrel with original 7 groove polygon rifling with flat land. 1803 Harpers Ferry Rifle. It is interesting to note that those guns were marked with a U.S. on the top flat of the barrel and carry a P and C inspector mark. We can be grateful for his diligence and time expended on this subject. 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). 9, Pg. It is worthy of being reprinted in its entirety for its minute detail and insight into the military thinking of the time. The second observation worthy of note is the comment about the rifling being less liable to become fouled by firing. Measurements on everything varied. (8) Donald Jackson, ed., Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and related Documents, 1783-1854/ Jackson, 2 Vol., (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1968), Vol 1, pgs. He shows up on the Lancaster County tax lists for 1785-1840. Both armories also produced the Model 1842 percussion musket and Model 1855 percussion . (18) When Dearborn requested the December changes, finished weapons had the straight upper ramrod pipes BRAZED to the rib. 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. Barrel lengths, thicknesses and profiles (wedding ring, octagon portion and diameters) varied widely. How inspections were done before this time is unknown as well as any markings that may have been applied during the process. It will match the other assembly numbers found on the stock and barrel. these 1803 rifles was finished. Guns of Lewis and Clark - Buffalo Bill Center of the West 567. The lock plate markings (lettering) are individually hand stamped, done before a full die stamp had been made for full production (see Appendix I). Pipes were hard soldered to the rib before assembly so they would not release from the rib during the barrel mounting process. Dearborns May 1803 order for 2,000 rifles was in direct response to an Oct 16, 1802 act by Spain revoking the American right of deposit in New Orleans. Again, it is very important to recognize that Lewiss rifles had absolutely nothing to do with the upcoming 1803 military contract. (48). What may be significant is that he not only mentions the rifles within 3 months of starting his entries again in January,1806, but does so in 5 of the following 6 months. Over 300 of these rifles were stored at the Harpers Ferry arsenal when Harpers Ferry production capabilities in 1803 was more than enough to make his rifles in the allotted time. the Falls of the Ohio River, near Louisville, Kentucky. In the same volume is the air gun story written by Dr. Beeman based upon our study of his gun. 30, 120, 208, & 250. been issued to Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery. The ramrod pipe begins to gain a very distinctive upper pipe flair toward the end of the contract. Enough rifles exist with 1803 dated lock plates to prove full scale production in that year. Just the type of catastrophic barrel failures experienced by Lewis, 2 out of 15 completely rules out the use of the M1792 rifle that used standard grade rifle powder. Tench Coxe took over Purveyor of Public Stores in 1803. Second is a the very long-standing misplaced faith in the 1822 reconstructed Bomford records indicating that no short rifles (even prototypes) were made in 1803. The late 1790s was still a dangerous and unsteady period in Americas growth and assured independence, with enemies and threats from many sides. He was 38 years old (believed to have been born in 1774) and experienced a life that is excelled by few. Throughout the journals the feminine noun is used often when referring to weapons, especially the air rifle. This continued until the end of production mid 1815 to 1819. It became very clear to me (as it would be to anyone who read them) that they carried a short rifle made at Harpers Ferry with interchangeable locks which Lewis himself picked up at the arsenal so I got involved in the M1792 vs. M1803 controversy. Edward Flanagan, who wrote a paper on the 1792 and 1807 contract rifles, believes that the weapons were marked by the U.S. government, a lesson learned from gun thefts during the Revolutionary War. (6) The Spanish administered the French speaking colony. But for the precaution taken in bringing on those extra locks and parts of locks, in addition to the ingenuity of John Shields, most of our guns would at this moment be entirely unfit for use; but fortunately for us I have it in my power here to record that they are all in good order.. The term she in Lewiss remarks refers to the rifle itself and is a common vernacular of 18th century America. GI#: 102236266. All anyone needs to do, for their own satisfaction, is to professionally check it out for themselves. Both officers witnessed the Treaty of Greenville on August 3, 1795 that helped secure claim to the area between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River. found on the surviving examples. In all actuality, they could not have left us better evidence regarding their use of the new short rifles soon to be part of the Army inventory.(50). (Brown, op. Flint - Dixie Gun Works His V/JS final inspection stamp will be found in the wood opposite the lock. Examination of rifles from this period confirms this phenomenon, to the point that they were omitted from many American made muskets of the Revolution. We believe this was done to handle DuPonts new domestic rifle powder introduced in 1807 and called FFFg by 1808. Select an option Straight Maple 1/2 Stock (0-30% Curl - $90) Curly Maple 1/2 Stock Grd II (35-65% Curl - $105) Curly Maple 1/2 Stock Grd III (70-85% Curl - $150.) The Rifle Shoppe, Inc. - US Arms - US Contract Rifles Straight upper ramrod thimble on SN 15. James S. Stubblefield then took over final assembly inspection and carry his script V/JS final inspection cartouche. . Many people believe that without these two special arms it may not have succeeded. Lewiss men probably exercised this prerogative, especially the Kentuckians who grew up with a rifle in their hands. With the discovery of Serial Number 15 Model 1800 rifle we have categorized, for the purpose of this study, the Harpers Ferry rifles into five categories for a clearer understanding. Significantly, the requisition paperwork from Harpers Ferry does not Bomford shows 146 rifles made in 1807, but with serial number 3912 bearing an 1806 dated lock, only 88 are unaccounted for that could possibly have a lock dated 1807. This may have been a state level arsenal repair to extend barrel life, however, we have examined some late model rifles that show no use but have a bushed touchhole. Since this bore size conflicted with Dearborns specifications of 30 balls to the pound (a smaller size than a .540 bore would require), we decided to gauge the bores of as many original short rifles as possible. Great War Militaria 2019.
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