Springfield Model 1816 Musket
Springfield Armory (US Government) · Rifle · Out Of Production · 1816
Also known as: Model 1816, U.S. Model 1816 Musket
Overview
The Springfield Model 1816 was a .69 caliber smoothbore flintlock musket and the standard U.S. military shoulder arm of the early-to-mid 19th century. Manufactured by Springfield Armory, Harpers Ferry Armory, and numerous private contractors between 1816 and 1844, it was produced in greater numbers than any other U.S. flintlock musket. Strongly influenced by the French Charleville pattern, it featured a straighter stock and grip than earlier models. Hundreds of thousands were later converted from flintlock to percussion ignition and saw service through the American Civil War.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4550 g (160.5 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1475 mm (58.07") |
| Barrel Length | 1067 mm (42.01") |
| Firing Mechanism | Single Action |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Effective Range | 137 m (150 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 3 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | None |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
Calibers
- .69 Caliber Musket Ball · primary — also known as round ball, .69 ball, buck and ball
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Muzzle Loaded
- Features: Muzzleloader, Flintlock, Smoothbore, Bayonet Lug, Percussion Conversion
Service history
Operators
- United States Army · adopted 1816 · as Model 1816
Conflicts
- Mexican-American War (1846-1848)
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
Production
Estimated total produced: 675,000 · Production years: 1816-1844
Produced at Springfield Armory, Harpers Ferry, and by private contractors; most-produced U.S. flintlock musket
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Discontinued: 1844
Notes
Total production across all makers is estimated at roughly 675,000 units. Many surviving examples were converted to percussion lock in the 1840s-1850s.
Background
The Model 1816 soldiered on far past its prime: tens of thousands were dug out of arsenals, converted from flint to percussion, and pressed back into service for the Civil War decades after they were first stacked away.