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

Smith New York Union Continentals Rifle

Smith New York Union Continentals Rifle  358. 358.–1 Buffalo, New York gunmaker Patrick Smith made halfstock .58 caliber rifles for members of a local militia home guard company created 12 days after the outbreak of the Civil War. The “Union Continentals” a militia home guard company in Buffalo, New York, came into existence at a April 27, 1861, meeting. Past president of the United States, Millard Fillmore, was elected commander with the rank of major. Fillmore had served as 13th president of the United States, between 1850 and 1853 and, like many members of the Union Continentals, at age 61 he was too old for active service when the Civil War broke out in 1861. During May, the company was organized and officers and noncommissioned officers were appointed. By June 1, the company consisted of 140 officers and enlisted men. An additional 80 men had also enlisted in the company, but had not yet paid the $3.00 initiation fee. The company’s membership included four ex-generals of militia, 16 excolonels , 33 ex-majors, 60 ex-captains, and 35 honorary members. An average of 100 men attended the twice-weekly company drills. Several of the members had achieved personal wealth. It has been reported that, after the war, one of the company’s veterans wrote, “the company’s membership represented a cash capital of twenty million dollars.” The Union Continentals were active throughout the Civil War. They escorted New York volunteer companies that had been called up as they marched through Buffalo to join the war. They also escorted the parades when they returned from combat. Other patriotic work included recruiting men for the New York regiments . They formed honor guards at several funerals. It has been reported the Union Continentals were the official honor guard when Lincoln’s funeral procession passed through New York State; when Lincoln’s body lay in state in Saint James Hall in Buffalo, they served as his honor guard there, as well. The Union Continentals contracted with local gun-maker Patrick Smith to fabricate half-stocked rifles for the active members of the Union Continentals. Smith had made sporting arms since 1835, and was listed in the 1860 census as having four employees and annual sales of $6,500.00. It is speculated that fairly light half-stocked rifles were purchased in order to facilitate handling during drill by the unit’s older members. The members’ ages ranged from under 30 to the early 70s. General Information Caliber: .58 Overall Length: 511 /2" to 513 /4" Non-Armory-Pattern Muzzleloading Arms 439 358.–2 The nipple bolster and lock of the Union Continental’s rifles were generally similar to the Pattern 1853 Enfield arms. Finish: All metal is browned, except for the color case–hardened lock and hammer. Brass Components: Sidescrew washer Production Period: 1861 Quantity Procured: Fewer than 100 are believed to have been made. Barrel Length: 36" Contour: Octagonal for 11 /4" at the breech, then round, tapering in decreasing diameter to the muzzle. An under-rib extends forward from the stock’s foretip for 211 /2", to 31 /8" of the muzzle. The barrel also has an under-lug for its retaining key. Muzzle Extension: 245 /8" Nipple Bolster: The bottom profile curves upwards at the rear, forming the flash shield at the top. The flat outer surface is without cleanout screw, and is flush with the lockplate’s surface. Bore: Rifled with five .011"-deep grooves. The land-to-groove diameter is .584". Breech Tang: The 23 /16" tang is round-ended. Sights: Rear Sight: The 1" base of the Variant Model 1858 rear sight is dovetailed to the barrel 4" forward of the breech. Front Sight: Although similar to regulation rifle musket sights, the rectangular base is higher and slightly wider. It is brazed to the barrel 15 /16" behind the muzzle. Lock Lockplate: The 47 /8" by 11 /8" flat-surfaced lockplate has a rounded rear profile. Hammer: The 27 /16" to 23 /4" convex-surfaced hammer is generally “S” shaped. The thumbpiece is not checkered and the cupped nose is not notched. Part III 440 Internal Parts: There is a connecting link between the mainspring and the tumbler. The tumbler has half- and full-cock notches. Mountings Trigger and Guard Assembly: The iron trigger is suspended from a lateral pin...