American Military Shoulder Arms, Volume 3: Flintlock Alterations and Muzzleloading Percussion Shoulder Arms, 1840-1865

Krider Rifle Musket

325.–1 John Krider’s records indicate that he sold only eight shoulder arms described as “muskets” or “rifle muskets” during 1861 and 1862. Surviving examples of these three banded rifle muskets are rare. Krider Rifle Musket  325. It is possible the Krider firm’s sales records examined by the author may have been incomplete. It is likely that additional military shoulder arms were sold during the Civil War. Records from 1855 to the end of the Civil War give no indication that large quantities of shoulder arms were sold to individuals, militia units, or other merchants. The shoulder arms sold were identified in these records only as “minie muskets,” “muskets,” “cadet muskets,” and “rifles” or “Zouave rifles.” Krider’s records state that he sold 75 shoulder arms described as “muskets,” and two described as “minie muskets” in 1861. In 1862, Krider sold only five arms described as “muskets.” General Information Caliber: .58 Overall Length: 5513 /16" Finish: Color Case Hardened: Lockplate and hammer Blued: Internal lock components and machine screws Bright: Other metallic parts Brass Components: Known examples are iron-mounted with a pewter forend cap. Production Period: 1861–1862 Quantity Procured: Unknown, but estimated to be fewer than 100 Barrel Length: 397 /8" Contour: Octagonal at the breech for 15 /8", then round, tapering in decreasing diameter to the flat-crowned muzzle. Nipple Bolster: This is similar to the bolster of the Model 1861 rifle musket. It has a rounded bottom profile, and convex outer surface, with a recessed cleanout screw. The flash shield is thinner than the shield of the Model 1861 rifle musket. Muzzle Extension: 215 /16" Breech Tang: The 2" by 1 /2" tang is round-ended. Sights: Rear Sight: A fixed “V”-notched standing leaf is dovetailed to the barrel 5" forward of the breech. A folding leaf similar to that used on Spencer Non-Armory-Pattern Muzzleloading Arms 389 325.–2 The Krider’s rifle musket’s unusual rear sight has a tangent leaf graduated to 800 yards. repeating rifles pivots on a lateral screw through the lower front part of the standing leaf. The sight is graduated from 100 to 800 yards. Front Sight: The iron blade is integral with its rectangular .352" by .265" base, and is brazed to the barrel 11 /8" behind the muzzle. The base serves as a lug for an angular socket bayonet. Bore: Rifled with three .002"-deep by .298"-wide grooves that make one turn in 72". The land-to-ground diameter is .595". Lock Lockplate: The 51 /2" by 13 /16" lockplate is flat-surfaced, and has a rounded rear profile. Hammer: The 3" convex-surfaced hammer has a generally “S”-shaped profile. The top of the thumbpiece curls rearward, and is checkered. Note: The mainspring’s upper leaf is screwed to the lockplate. Its lower leaf bears directly on the tumbler, which has full- and half-cock notches. Mountings Trigger and Guard Assembly: This 95 /8" assembly is similar to that of the Model 1842 musket. The trigger is suspended from a lateral machine screw through a split lug integral with the iron trigger plate. The round-ended plate is 5 /8" wide at the front and broadens to 3 /4" at the rear. It differs from the Model 1842 musket plate in that it is retained at the rear by one convexheaded wood screw, instead of two. The 11 /8"-wide guard bow is retained to the trigger plate by slotted nuts. Butt Plate: Examples are known with either brass or iron butt plates. One example has a 43 /8" by 15 /8" iron butt plate with a curved rear profile and a convex surface. The 23 /6" tang is round-ended. Implement Compartment: The 215 /16" by 11 /8" lid of a 5" iron two-piece assembly covers an oval stock recess. The hinge plate is retained by three convexheaded screws. Barrel Bands: Known examples have flat-surfaced 5 /8" iron bands that are formed inwards at the forestock’s upper edge. Barrel Band Spacing: Breech to Lower Band: 101 /4" Part III 390 Lower to Middle Band: 115 /16" Middle to Upper Band: 115 /8" Sling Swivels: The swivels are riveted to an integral lug under the middle barrel band and to the front branch of the trigger guard bow. Sidescrews and Plate: The...