- Model 1816 Musket
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Model 1816 Musket 
Type Musket Place of origin 
United StatesService history In service 1816-1865 Used by United States Wars Mexican-American War, American Civil War Production history Designed 1812 Produced 1816-1844 Number built 675,000 Specifications Weight 10 lbs. Length 58 inches Caliber .69 musket ball Action Flintlock Rate of fire 2-3 round/min Effective range 100 to 200 yards Feed system Muzzleloader 
The US Model 1816 Musket was a .69 caliber flintlock musket used in the United States during the early 19th century.
Contents
History
The War of 1812 had revealed many weaknesses in American muskets. The Model 1812 Musket was created in an attempt to improve both the design and manufacture of the musket. The Model 1816 made further improvements, and replaced the Model 1812. The Model 1812 had borrowed heavily from the design of the French Charleville model 1777 musket, and this design was retained for the Model 1816. The Model 1816 had a 42 inch long .69 caliber barrel, similar to the Model 1812, but had a longer lock plate, a shorter trigger guard, and a longer bayonet than the Model 1812. The Model 1816 also had a more straight lined stock. The overall length of the weapon was 58 inches.[1]
Model 1816 Musket Exploded View DiagramThe Model 1816 musket was originally produced at the Harpers Ferry and Springfield Arsenals between 1816 and 1844. Around 675,000 were made, more than any other flintlock in U.S. history.[2]
The Model 1816 was originally produced as a flintlock musket. Like many flintlock muskets, many of these were later converted to percussion cap, as the percussion cap system was much more reliable and weather resistant.
The Model 1816 was used by Texians during the Texas Revolution and by the US Army and militia during the Mexican-American War. It was also used during the early years of the American Civil War until around 1862.
Many improvements to the Model 1816 were made, producing the Model 1822, Model 1835, Model 1840, and Model 1842. U.S. Ordnance Department referred to these as different models, but in other U.S. government documents they are referred to as a continuation of the Model 1816.[3] Modern histories are similarly inconsistent in the nomenclature of these weapons.
External links
See also
- List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces
- Springfield musket
- musket
References
- ^ "Guns on the Early Frontiers" by Carl P. Russell, Published by U of Nebraska Press, 1980
- ^ http://www.nps.gov/spar/historyculture/sa-firearms-questions.htm Springfield Armory Weapons Research
- ^ "Guns on the Early Frontiers" by Carl P. Russell, Published by U of Nebraska Press, 1980
Categories:- Muskets
- Firearms of the United States
- American Civil War weapons
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