Sawyers judgment of their incomplete and inaccuracies is an understatement and has caused much confusion among writers, even Brown. Lewiss men had no reason to double charge any of their rifles since the 2000 FPS achieved from the Model 1800 rifle with only a 33-inch barrel using the full 90 grain charge far exceeds that attainable by a long rifle with any type of maximum charge. These were usually applied in three visible areas stock, barrel and lock to reassemble a rifle after cleaning. In battle, they often provided advance skirmish support and as individual sharpshooters, inflicted casualties at long range upon opposing enemy officers. Dearborns December 5th, 1803 letter is a prime example of a single document proving the invalidity of Bomfords calculations. The remaining unclaimed land would be acquired by treaties, negotiations and conflicts lasting well over 100 years. By 1802, Perkin had established a manufactory similar to that in Europe where each craftsman was responsible for a specific component part of the gun or its mounting. The .520 ball also meets Dearborns 30 balls to the pound requirement. Serial number 318 has a flared pipe which means they simply used one of the newer sub-assemblies. 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. His apparent diligence in gun matters won him a position of supervisor of New London Arsenal in 1792. Dearborn had experience with rifles in the American Revolution. This list, with its confirmed serial numbers and lock dates, produces a relatively good chart to judge the authenticity of any rifles made between 1803-1806. In 1808 he made his now famous 200 mile run for survival from the Indians. 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.. All the journals kept on the expedition used the new proper term short rifle when talking about this weapon. Guns of the Grunt: 1813 :: Guns.com The Lewis and Clark "short rifle" Harper's Ferry "short rifle" SN 15, built in 1803 was used as a pattern for our rifle project once we verified its authenticity. modified 1792 / 1794 rifles, not the M1803 ones. What a story this rifle could tell! Correspondence in the 1795-1800 timeframe indicate that the rifles varied in barrel length from 42 to 44-1/2 and in calibers of .45 to .49. with all being identified to maker. This cit., Pg. They were so special that Harpers Ferry built the militarys first sniper rifle in 1814 specifically for the best of these men as the force was increased. (26)(24), Clark writes of the same event: The Guns of Sergt. It would just load easier and probably had little effect upon accuracy. 1792/1794 Lewis and Clark Contract Rifle - Don Stith The name short rifle was applied to the new weapon immediately to separate from the common long rifle then in use (called the M1792 by collectors today). 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. What is important is that Dearborn was well enough informed of the benefits offered by the new rifling design to make note of it in his letter. The M1792 was a heavier built Morgans combined forces of riflemen went on to inflict great casualties among the British officers and artillerymen unfortunate enough to be caught in the open.(9). It also proved that Lewiss short rifles mentioned in the journals were one and the same rifle. Note the similarities in design. 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). As for the slings Lewis, assigned regimental paymaster to the First Infantry Regiment in 1800, had visited all the Western forts and garrisons and was so well acquainted with them and their men that in 1802 (after he became the Presidents personal Secretly in March of 1801) Jefferson appointed him to prepare a chart rating the 269 officers then in the Army. Overcharging was common practice in those days, especially by Indians who were unaware of the effects of such heavy charges. Horseman's Pistols, 15 Rifles, 15 Powder Horns and Pouches, 15 The second observation worthy of note is the comment about the rifling being less liable to become fouled by firing. It was converted to percussion and bored smooth for continued use. The 1792 contract rifle is not a specific model of gun, rather it is a modern way to categorize a collection of rifles bought by the United States government in that year. May 2006, Vol 32, No.2, written my Jim Merritt from our research. Engineering:Harpers Ferry Model 1803 - HandWiki He is credited in Arms Makers of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Woods & Whisker, Pg. In 1798 Perkin was appointed to set up the new government arsenal at Harpers Ferry. (36), Barrel failures are one of the most significant clues left to us as to the type of rifles carried by Lewiss men. Before the United States military used standardized weapons with interchangeable parts, it bought rifles that are difficult to distinguish from their civilian equivalent. (Hicks, op. According to the journals, Windsors rifle had burst on the morning of June 16,1806. These are two important points to consider when looking for a REAL 1803 production rifle. SN 359 is the highest known pre-December production military contract rifle we have recorded to date. From our experience the ribs probably separated from the barrel during hard field use. He delivered 106 rifles on the Feb 7,1794 (second contract placed) order of 2000. (49) James Kendall Hosmer, ed., Gasss Journal of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, (Mansfield Centre: Lone Wolf Press, 1999, Reprint of 1904 edition of Gasss Journal), Pgs. For decades arms writers have tried to explain away the many inconsistencies in his numbers on other types of early Harpers Ferry arms without challenging them, perpetuating our belief that his records are not the gospel on the subject. Between March and May of 1803, based upon his convincing proof, Dearborn made the important decision that the newly designed Model 1800 short rifle being built for Lewiss expedition was also perfect for the U.S. Armys needs. ", About Us | Contact Us | Join/Renew | Corporate Ethics | Privacy Policy, Theodore Roosevelt and Elegant Arms - 1880s to 1920s, WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Beyond - 1940 to Present, Frank Brownell NRA Museum of the Southwest, Serialization/ Date of Manufacture from The Blue Book, Store Brand Crossover List from The Blue Book, Gun Collector Organizations from The Blue Book. Moller makes an interesting statement regarding storekeeper George Ingalls (Schuylkill Arsenal) 1810 records in his chapter on the 1807 contract rifles and is worth quoting in its entirety The dates that the rifles were entered in the storekeepers records usually summarized several earlier deliveries and should not be construed as the actual dates of deliveries. His position as Arsenal Superintendent gave him access to a large reference collection of various types of rifles stored at the arsenal, including samples of British rifles of the American Revolution with their proven technology using fine German rifle powder (SDS), all of which found its way into the new United States Army short rifle.(11). This is the subject of this section, to talk about riflemen and their special weapons. Today, that same term would not apply to anything regarding a rifle. these 1803 rifles was finished. Rather than be dependent upon British SDS powder, around which the 33 barreled Model 1803 rifle was designed, the new rifle of 1814, with an increase in 1815 to a 36 barrel, could now use the slightly less powerful French formula DuPont rifle powder. (14) For many years the caliber(bore size) of the short rifle has been defined as .54, an error caused by measuring the rifle at the muzzle where it is swamped for easy insertion of the patched ball. The Model 1795 was produced in about 85,000 units until 1814. The first observation of this document is the amazing detail of the rifle, right down to actual measurements. We also encountered some pipe distance variations on the Lewis rifle and some pre-December,1803 military guns. Caliber 52. There are no explanations for these omissions. Ernie said to me we will build them but only if you are sure that is what they used. Dearborn wrote again to Perkin on December 2, 1803, stating The iron ribbed Rifle in my opinion is an excellent pattern, with the following very trifling alterations (viz.) From reading Dearborn's letter, Land claims given to veterans of the Revolutionary War were in this new area, but the Indians were not ready to peacefully give up their ancient lands to encroachment. 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. For all powder charges, the following instructions were given Some hold that a quantity of powder equal to three times the full of the mould in which the ball is cast, is the proper charge; others four times the full of the mould; on this plan a ball of twenty to the pound would be fired with nearly a fourth the weight of the ball. Joseph Perkin, superintendent of the Harpers Ferry Arsenal, Henry Dearborn, Secretary of War, and Meriwether Lewis are the principal players in this story. The new heptagonal rifling allowed more shots between cleaning, making it better than the English Baker Rifle. This will clarify why these rifles were totally unsuitable for Lewiss needs. The use, or lack of use, of certain terminology in descriptions was intentional, all being proper for his day. sum of $2,500.00 to fund a small expeditionary group, known as the Right -1819 dated rifle, 36 barrel with 7 groove round bottom rifling with curved lands. It is also of note that they were not required to use the maximum charge and that a reduced load would often perform better. [2], Before their exploratory trip, the Lewis and Clark Expedition obtained rifles from the Harper's Ferry Arsenal. Loss of a mold meant the loss of a rifles use. Several ribs, previously mounted to finished barrels, let loose during subsequent work. Small parts (such as screws) may be unmarked on later guns, but most early ones are. In many instances they were free from the normal camp and fatigue duties of the common soldier and were encouraged to practice with their rifles as often as possible. Barrel profiles were round at the breech for all 1803 dated rifles. 3. These assembly numbers are found on almost every part of the gun and are important when checking the originality of any rifle. 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. not consistent with Army regulations, unless the arsenal had only one One such shooting incident recorded by Lewis on May 12,1806 is worthy of mention when his men struck the mark with 2 balls. The ones I managed to find show up here and in Appendix I where we look at the difference in these 15 rifles and the military production. With that threat over, the American rifle battalions were dropped in the May 4, 1800 Army reorganization. Initially 908 rifles went to Ft. Pitt and 100 to Virginia. In addition, they practiced an Indian-file pace for movement when acting alone or detached from the main body, with the weapon carried in any suitable mode (they used no slings). These weights probably varied due to the purity of the lead of that period. It is worthy of being reprinted in its entirety for its minute detail and insight into the military thinking of the time. Seventeen gunsmiths delivered 2,000 rifles by November 1794. All of the above are estimated 1803 production SN ranges based upon the earliest serial number of a confirmed 1804 dated rifle (as done with each year block). Additionally, Lewis purchased replacement This pipe could not be changed for reasons explained in the text. You will therefore take the necessary measures for commencing the manufactory as soon as may be after completing the Muskits now in hand. from Congress for an amazing endeavor. Riflemen were taught the basic drills of Company and Battalion Drill but then left alone to act alone under their officers & NCOs. letter to Perkin supports this, especially when Dearborn states that With such confusing instructions, the wide range of gunsmiths making the rifles assured inconsistencies especially when the changes were requested while guns were already in production. (6) The Spanish administered the French speaking colony. Collectors know these rifles were made in 1803 and pay handsomely for an early example, but Caveat Emptor when buying any short rifle of the 1803 to 1806 period. Not understanding this causes a lot of errors even in the most modern books on British muzzle loading rifles. This is respectable shooting for a rifleman using the 1803 rifle. (15) Since locks were built by a specialized artisan in the arsenal, he too has his own small assembly numbers on each part of the lock that are independent of the rifle assembly number. His use of the word glaized is interesting since it was a term used in British correspondence (spelled glazed) when referring to the fine rifle powder (SDS)used during the American Revolution in both the Ferguson and British Pattern rifled carbines (P76 rifles).(41). Lewis and Clark Rifle Kit? - American Longrifles The Secretary of War, Henry Knox began procuring rifles for the army. Lewis quietly went about gathering his supplies for his small party of men so as not to expose the real size of the expedition about 30 men, all under Army authority and pay.(6). under contract for the United States Army in 1792 and 1794. There is really no mystery as to the type of rifles Lewis took for his expedition. Experiments using 65 grains produced a muzzle velocity of 1450 FPS with enough accuracy to strike a man consistently at 200 yards. That was modified to a 42-inch long barrel in .49 caliber, with a well-seasoned maple stock and a flintlock. 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. he was much pleased with the exchange and shot his gun several times; he shoots very well for an inexperienced person.(32). U.S. Model 1803 Flintlock Rifle. Rifles existed long before the 17th century, but were rarely used by military forces. Lewiss timing for his visit to Harpers Ferry on March 16th of 1803 could not have been better, since waiting in the wings was the perfect weapon for his expedition a large bore, short, lightweight and hard-hitting rifle. All anyone needs to do, for their own satisfaction, is to professionally check it out for themselves. Model 1814 common rifle - Wikipedia We have only his account of events for this survival story, with the known fact that he arrived at Ft. Remon almost naked with sore feet and starving. All military M1803 rifles used a solid rib for a better soft solder adhering surface. There is the possibility that a few rifles may exist with an 1807 lock but none have surfaced as of this writing. (24) Gary E. Moulton, ed., The Journals of Lewis & Clark Expedition, 13 volumes (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1988-2001), Vol 6, Pg. Each weapon played a highly significant role in a journey that allowed his party to cross a great expanse of a relatively unknown portion of our great nation acquired by purchase from France in 1803. Documented cases of OCTAGON barrels bursting in any manner have yet to be encountered by the author. Lewis, U.S.A., Early U.S. Military Riflemen, (The American Rifleman, December,1958), Pg. Slings were never a part of the American rifleman culture in the 18th and 19th century for a good reason they got in the way when stalking game and they snag on equipment when traveling on horseback or in canoes. 33-35. (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. Another feature we believe unique to the first 15 rifles was the placement of the second pipe which is closer to the front pipe than those of military production rifles. rifles were manufactured at Harpers Ferry and the rifles and extra parts were made all interchangeable. This also tells us that each person received and was responsible for his own rifle and carried it throughout the journey. Lewiss took 50 pounds of Best Rifle Powder from Harpers Ferry and purchased 176 pounds of English Cannister Powder from Beck & Harvey in Philadelphia, who made the best rifle powder in the world. Dearborn makes no comment of interchangeability of locks for the military rifles, making this feature unique to Lewiss fifteen rifles. C. Lewiss use of the term short rifle throughout the journal is the proper name applied to the new Harpers Ferry Rifle to differentiate it from the long rifle term (the M1792). 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. A second contract was let in 1794 for 2,000 additional rifles to have a reserve on hand since the first contract was used up in the initial issue. There were no .530 calibre U.S. military round ball molds (for a .54 bore) to be found. It was a tremendous job, but as time would tell, he proved himself capable of the task, which led to a position of great power and earned him the absolute trust and confidence of Secretary of War, Henry Dearborn. of powder with 2 balls. This highly skilled work force was in place when Lewis arrived on the scene in March of 1803. [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]. An entry of April 12, 1806 just might confirm this We caused all the men who had short rifles to carry them, in order to be prepared for the nativs should they make attempts to rob or injure them. Rolled cartridges were reserved for close order fire only. 100). The late 1790s was still a dangerous and unsteady period in Americas growth and assured independence, with enemies and threats from many sides.