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Model 1847 Artillery Musketoon  220. On May 16, 1842, Chief of Ordnance Colonel George Talcott sent a circular letter to the commanders of the five companies in the First Artillery, seven companies in the Second Artillery, and nine companies in the Fourth Artillery. He requested detailed information on the muskets then in hands of each company “which may enable this Department to correct errors that may exist in the manufacture of muskets.” Unfortunately, the company commanders’ responses have not been located, but it is believed that most if not all of the artillery companies were then armed with either flintlock infantry muskets or Model 1817 artillery/cadet muskets. On July 24, 1843, Chief of Ordnance Colonel Talcott defined the difference between carbines and musketoons: “The carbine, from its construction and mode of slinging, is exclusively adapted to the armament of dragoons. The musketoon is the arm which has been adopted for foot artillery; but none have yet been produced. In addition to the production figures given here, both Model 1847 cavalry and sappers musketoons were altered to the artillery musketoon con- figuration. These are described in sections 225.3 and 230.1. General Information Caliber: .69 smooth-bored Overall Length: 411 /16" Finish: All metal parts are finished “National Armory Bright” except for the trigger, the guard bow’s slotted retaining nuts, and internal lock parts and screws, which are heat blued from the drawing process. Brass Components: Front sight Procurement: All were fabricated at Springfield Armory. Calendar Year Quantity Calendar Year Quantity 1847 — 1852 100 1848 550 1853 400 1849 151 1854 200 1850 1,0001 1855 800 1851 — Total 3,201 Note 1 The chief of ordnance’s annual report for fiscal 1849 erroneously lists these as cavalry musketoons. Armory-Pattern Muzzleloading Arms 221 Barrel Length: 26" Contour: Round, tapering in decreasing diameter to the flat-crowned muzzle. There are 23 /8" breech side flats. Nipple Bolster: The bottom and rear profiles are straight. The rear profile inclines slightly rearward and terminates in the flash shield at the top. The flat outer surface is flush with the lockplate’s surface. Bayonet Lug: The 3 /16" by 1 /4" stud was mortised and brazed to the underside of the barrel 11 /8" behind the muzzle. Breech Plug Tang: The 2" by 9 /16" tang is round-ended. Muzzle Extension: 23 /4" Lock Lockplate: The surface of the 53 /16" by 13 /16" plate is flat with beveled edge. The rear profile of the .165"-thick plate is round. Hammer: The thumbpiece of the 215 /16" convex hammer is straight and checkered . The recessed nose has a notch at the top and is offset 5 /16" to align with the nipple. The hammer screw has a 3 /8" diameter convex head. Tumbler Notches: Full- and half-cock Mountings Trigger and Guard Assembly: The trigger is suspended from a lateral machine screw through a split lug integral with the 813 /16" trigger plate. This roundended plate is 9 /16" wide at the front and broadens to 11 /16" wide at the rear. It is retained by two convex-headed wood screws behind the guard bow, and by the breech tang screw. The 1"-wide guard bow is secured to the trigger plate by slotted nuts. Butt Plate: The 41 /4" by 13 /4" butt plate has a straight rear profile and a slightly convex rear surface. The 23 /16" tang is round-ended. Barrel Bands: The flat surfaces of the bands are formed inwards at the stock’s upper edge. Upper Band: The two 1 /2" barrel rings are separated by an open space, whose lower rear edge is cut away in an arc, exposing a part of the forestock. The oval brass front sight blade is on the front barrel ring. Its profile is semicircular. The band is 29 /16" long at the top, and extends rearward at the bottom to 35 /16". Lower Band: The band is 5 /8" wide at the top, and extends forward at the bottom to 7 /8". Barrel Band Spacing: Breech to Lower Band: 81 /4" Lower Band to Upper Band: 125 /16" Band Retainers: The 21 /4" upper spring is located behind the band and retains it by a stud that engages a hole in the band. The 23 /8" lower spring is located 220.–1 The iron-mounted artillery musketoon is equipped with sling swivels and a stud for a Model 1840/42 bayonet. [18...

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