The Springfield Model 1816 had borrowed heavily from the design of the French Charleville and was an improvement from the 1812 Flintlock Musket. This design was retained for the Model 1816. The Model 1816 has a 42-inch long .69 caliber smoothbore 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 long
This musket was originally manufactured 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!
The Model 1816 was originally manufactured as a flintlock musket. Many of these were later converted to percussion cap, which was more reliable and weather resistant.
During the early years of the American Civil War the Springfield 1816 was used up until around 1862. Most of the Model 1816 muskets had been converted to percussion firing by 1860. Muskets that were made prior to 1821 were considered too outdated to be serviceable weapons and were not converted. Most of them were in Southern arsenals and as a matter of fact a large number of Confederate soldiers for the first year of the Civil War carried the flintlock muskets, some of which dated back to the War of 1812.
The Springfield 1816 is an incredible rifle that was made from 1816 to 1844 covering many decades of conflict. Hope you enjoyed this article! What is your favorite model Muzzleloader?
