Harpers Ferry Model 1803
Harpers Ferry Armory · Rifle · Out Of Production · 1803
Also known as: U.S. Model 1803 Rifle, Harpers Ferry Rifle
Overview
The Harpers Ferry Model 1803 was the first rifle made at a U.S. national armory and one of the earliest firearms standardized for U.S. military issue. A flintlock, muzzle-loading rifle firing a .54 caliber patched round ball, it featured a distinctive half-stock with a brass patchbox and an octagon-to-round barrel. Produced in two runs (1803-1806 and 1814-1819), roughly 20,000 were built. The rifle is popularly, though debatably, associated with the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4080 g (143.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1244 mm (48.98") |
| Barrel Length | 838 mm (32.99") |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Effective Range | 180 m (197 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 3 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 7 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Browned |
Calibers
- .54 Ball · primary — also known as .54 caliber, 13.7mm patched round ball
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Muzzle Loaded Single Shot
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Flintlock Ignition, Muzzle Loading, Octagon To Round Barrel, Brass Patchbox, Set Trigger
Service history
Operators
- United States Army · adopted 1803 · as Model 1803
Conflicts
- War of 1812 (1812-1815)
Production
Estimated total produced: 19,726 · Production years: 1803-1819
Produced in two runs at the Harpers Ferry Armory; figures vary by source around 15,000-20,000
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Discontinued: 1819
Notes
Two production types existed: early rifles had ~33 inch barrels while later (post-1814) rifles used ~36 inch barrels. Many were later converted from flintlock to percussion ignition.
Background
The Model 1803 was the first regulation rifle manufactured at a U.S. national armory, and it is sometimes claimed to be the rifle carried on the Lewis and Clark Expedition, though the expedition rifles may have predated the model's official 1803 pattern.