Posted on 07/21/2018 3:13:13 PM PDT by Lazamataz
“...muskets were smooth bore... Some of the Colonists used them in the Rev War, most used long barreled smooth bore fouling pieces which could be loaded with either shot or round balls. A number of Colonists, mainly from the backwoods, used longrifles, with rifled barrels. Most replicas made today are copies of Pennsylvania or Kentucky type longrifles. Very few real muskets out there now.” [Inyo-Mono, post 55]
Almost all troops in the American War of Independence were equipped with smoothbore muskets, of patterns as standardized as the leadership could obtain.
AWI is noted as the first conflict in which organized forces used rifles, but they were not decisive. They could not mount a bayonet, they cost too much (and took too long to make), and could not be made in standardized calibers.
American forces used smoothbores in patterns begged, borrowed, stolen, or bought: as uniform and as military as they could find. Military arms were stronger, heavier, and could mount a bayonet. Some irregular forces and local militia units did arm with fowling pieces when nothing else could be had, but were always re-equipped with standard-pattern muskets when supplies and opportunities presented: first of British pattern (pinned barrel, 72 to 80 caliber) and later of French pattern (barrel bands, 69 caliber).
General Washington was of the opinion that the Americans would never beat the British unless they could field “an army that would look the enemy in the face” - in other words, that would stand its ground, returning shot for shot and thrust for thrust.
During the winter of 1778, he got what he wanted.
Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin von Steuben, a staff officer in the Prussian Army who had to leave it suddenly, under cloudy circumstances, came to America and declared he could train the Continental Army and standardize its tactics. He refused to accept any pay until he’d proven himself; he succeeded. The Continental Army met the British at Monmouth in New Jersey the subsequent June; the British were quite shocked.
American forces did fire multi-ball ammunition: the “buck and ball” load, which added three smaller-caliber balls (buckshot) to the standard single-ball load. Initially issued for guard duty, it was found to be so effective General Washington ordered it issued to all troops.
The United States did become the first nation in the world to adopt a standard rifle, in 1803. After tangling with the Americans almost thirty years previously, the British proved the lesson was not lost on them when they adopted the Baker rifle in 1805.
There are plenty of muskets in circulation now, of original pattern but modern make. One cannot join an AWI living history outfit without one.
Pietta makes them. Mine is a .44 caliber. The originals came in either .41 or .36 caliber. The originals also cost about $15-20 grand. The reproductions cost about $800.
She’s just a puppet with a drool cup.... It’s her POS husband with his hand up her backside that’s telling her what to say.
But, they only want to disarm us lowly peons while they keep their arsenal.
Great!
Now the wife and kids are going to have to eat macaroni and cheese for a bit. Oh well, it’s for a great cause.
thanks for the info
“LeMats are sexy. I would love to have someone produce them again in modern calibers with modern metallurgy.
I would buy one in a second.” [themidnightskulker, post 60]
“Pietta makes them. Mine is a .44 caliber. The originals came in either .41 or .36 caliber. The originals also cost about $15-20 grand. The reproductions cost about $800.” [FLT-bird, post 63]
Every piece of documentation I’ve seen declares the original LeMat revolver barrel to have been 42 caliber.
Even if it were to be made of modern steels, I’d be reluctant to trust the gun if chambered for cartridges more powerful than standard 38 Special, or cowboy action loadings. It’s not a solid-frame design, and the central smoothbore barrel is also the cylinder axis pin: not that strong, since it’s hollow.
The weapon must have been an armorer’s nightmare: bunches of tiny parts, largely underbuilt for the job they had to do then (who knows how they’d fare now); springs of decidedly weird shape, tucked into impossible places. If the retaining spring for the hammer’s striking face fails, you cannot fire either the smoothbore barrel or the revolver cylinder.
Bought one for the beloved spouse over 20 years ago. On detailed disassembly for cleaning before firing, we found some of the parts were already suffering corrosion. Extremely difficult to get into those nooks and crannies to clean and lube them.
Yep. not for every day carry, or for rough outdoor work, but the neato factor is well over 9000.
Not a safe queen, but a cool BBQ gun and conversation starter for sure.
Saw a pic of one custom built in.44 special I think. Looked nothing like the original.
Is it too late to hijack the thread with revolver vs. Semi? Or at least 9mm vs. 257?!
I thought muzzleloaders were the ONLY guns protected by the Second Amendment.
Your Crosman 760 is on someone’s list.
You can carry multiple cylinders. That’s why we need common-sense legislation limiting cylinder capacity to two rounds. For the children....
I do have multiple cylinders for my replica 1858 Remingtons.
If it had a rifled barrel the little 760 would be a neat gun.
Yeah. I’ve got one of the new POS plastic ones, just because I don’t want to shoot BBs through a rifled barrel on my pellet guns. The old wood and steel 760’s were a hoot.
And probably leather pouches to keep them on your belt. It’s an assault vest, circa 1860.
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