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Hallo Kamderaden!
In preparation for posting the detailed measurements I promised for the different versions of the M1841 Rifle (which I hope to start posting nexst week), here is a "Rosetta Stone" of sorts.
This is the "system" I grew up on that was/is used to speak a "common language" when it comes to the building of "authentic" (custom) reproductions of CW longarms. It is also useful, at times, for determining whether Italian or Japanese, etc, repro's are accurate or not.
Obviously, knowing what to measure and how to measure it, and from and to where, enables us to better communicate what we find on original firearms.
1. Overall length
2. Barrel Length
3. Rear Sight Location
4. Sight Radius
5. Overall Stock Length
6. Stock Tip to Muzzle
7. Drop in Stock
8. Placement of Barrel Bands
a. Upper (front)
b. Middle
c. Lower (rear)
9. Trigger Pull
When it comes to the different versions of the M1841 "Mississippi, Windsor, Jaeger, Harpers' Ferry, etc.," Percussion Rifle- the sight locations and the stock tip to muzzle will vary.
At any rate, "how to" measure to arrive at common measurements so we (or gunsmiths doing the work for you) can speak a "common language" is important.
1. Overall Length is measured along a straight line, parallel to the barrel, and measured from the "toe" (bottom rearward edge) of the buttplate to the muzzle end of the barrel.
2. Barrel Length is measured along a straight line, from the "breech joint" (the rearmost edge of the barrel at the breech where the breech plug butts against it) forward to the end of the muzzle.
3. Rear Sight Location is measured along a straight line, from the "breech joint" (the rearmost edge of the barrel at the breech where the breech plug butts against it) forward to the rear of the sight leaf (when up, such as the 100 yard leaf on a M1861 Springfield) and NOT the rear of the rear sight base.
4. Sight Radius is measured along a straight line, from the rear of the rear sight leaf (when up, such as the 100 yard leaf on a M1861 Springfield) forward to the rear of the front sight base (and NOT the blade itself).
5. Overall Stock Length is measured along a straight line, parallel to the barrel, and measured from the heel (bottom rearward edge) of the buttplate forward to the forward edge of the nose cap.
6. Stock Tip To Muzzle Length is measured along a straight line from the forward edge of the nose cap to the end of the muzzle.
7. Drop In Stock is measured along a straight line from the plane, or line, horizontally, of the barrel back to the the rearward most edge of the "heel" (top rearward edge) of the buttplate. The "Drop" is the vertical difference measured from the line or plane of the barrel vertically down to the heel of the buttplate.
8. Placement of the Barrel Bands is measured along a straight line, from the "breech joint" (the rearmost edge of the barrel at the breech where the breech plug butts against it) forward to the rear edge of the barrel band (lower, middle, upper).
9. Trigger Pull is measured along a straight line from the center of the rearward edge of the buttplate forward to the middle of the trigger when the trigger is at Half Cock.
For some trivia, different longarms had slightly different "Drop in Stock" measurements. The drop in the stock, being the difference between the plane or line of the barrel and the upper part of the stock or the "comb"- helped detemined "how fast" and "how comfortably" a longarm could be shouldered and the eye placed in alignment with the sights.
The M1841 had a 2.750 Inch drop, the M1855 Rifle 2.63" drop, the M1842/M1855/M1861/M1863 2.50" drop, and the P1853 Enfield 2.37" drop.
Many modern lads complain that they do not like the "feel" of the Enfield with its flat versus curved butt, and its higher comb.. ;-)
And, a "consideration" of sorts was given to period height and a "correlation" between height and arm length in the Trigger Pull.
At 5' 10", I have a 14 1/2 inch trigger pull.
The Trigger Pulls on originals runs: M1841 Rifle 13.875", the M1842 Musket 13.625",, the M1855 Rifle 13.37", the M1855 Rifle Musket 13.4", the M1861/M1863 13.5", the SM1861 13.4", the P1853 Enfield 14.3".
The British later viewed 14.3" as a bit "long," and removed an inch when they "Snyderized" the 4th Model. ;-)
I have never come across a reference or documentation as to "why" trigger pulls were as they were, except for the Snyder observation/change. However, they are "geared" toward a smaller man with shorter arms. ;-)
Curt-Heinrich Schmidt
Steel Rule Mess
In preparation for posting the detailed measurements I promised for the different versions of the M1841 Rifle (which I hope to start posting nexst week), here is a "Rosetta Stone" of sorts.
This is the "system" I grew up on that was/is used to speak a "common language" when it comes to the building of "authentic" (custom) reproductions of CW longarms. It is also useful, at times, for determining whether Italian or Japanese, etc, repro's are accurate or not.
Obviously, knowing what to measure and how to measure it, and from and to where, enables us to better communicate what we find on original firearms.
1. Overall length
2. Barrel Length
3. Rear Sight Location
4. Sight Radius
5. Overall Stock Length
6. Stock Tip to Muzzle
7. Drop in Stock
8. Placement of Barrel Bands
a. Upper (front)
b. Middle
c. Lower (rear)
9. Trigger Pull
When it comes to the different versions of the M1841 "Mississippi, Windsor, Jaeger, Harpers' Ferry, etc.," Percussion Rifle- the sight locations and the stock tip to muzzle will vary.
At any rate, "how to" measure to arrive at common measurements so we (or gunsmiths doing the work for you) can speak a "common language" is important.
1. Overall Length is measured along a straight line, parallel to the barrel, and measured from the "toe" (bottom rearward edge) of the buttplate to the muzzle end of the barrel.
2. Barrel Length is measured along a straight line, from the "breech joint" (the rearmost edge of the barrel at the breech where the breech plug butts against it) forward to the end of the muzzle.
3. Rear Sight Location is measured along a straight line, from the "breech joint" (the rearmost edge of the barrel at the breech where the breech plug butts against it) forward to the rear of the sight leaf (when up, such as the 100 yard leaf on a M1861 Springfield) and NOT the rear of the rear sight base.
4. Sight Radius is measured along a straight line, from the rear of the rear sight leaf (when up, such as the 100 yard leaf on a M1861 Springfield) forward to the rear of the front sight base (and NOT the blade itself).
5. Overall Stock Length is measured along a straight line, parallel to the barrel, and measured from the heel (bottom rearward edge) of the buttplate forward to the forward edge of the nose cap.
6. Stock Tip To Muzzle Length is measured along a straight line from the forward edge of the nose cap to the end of the muzzle.
7. Drop In Stock is measured along a straight line from the plane, or line, horizontally, of the barrel back to the the rearward most edge of the "heel" (top rearward edge) of the buttplate. The "Drop" is the vertical difference measured from the line or plane of the barrel vertically down to the heel of the buttplate.
8. Placement of the Barrel Bands is measured along a straight line, from the "breech joint" (the rearmost edge of the barrel at the breech where the breech plug butts against it) forward to the rear edge of the barrel band (lower, middle, upper).
9. Trigger Pull is measured along a straight line from the center of the rearward edge of the buttplate forward to the middle of the trigger when the trigger is at Half Cock.
For some trivia, different longarms had slightly different "Drop in Stock" measurements. The drop in the stock, being the difference between the plane or line of the barrel and the upper part of the stock or the "comb"- helped detemined "how fast" and "how comfortably" a longarm could be shouldered and the eye placed in alignment with the sights.
The M1841 had a 2.750 Inch drop, the M1855 Rifle 2.63" drop, the M1842/M1855/M1861/M1863 2.50" drop, and the P1853 Enfield 2.37" drop.
Many modern lads complain that they do not like the "feel" of the Enfield with its flat versus curved butt, and its higher comb.. ;-)
And, a "consideration" of sorts was given to period height and a "correlation" between height and arm length in the Trigger Pull.
At 5' 10", I have a 14 1/2 inch trigger pull.
The Trigger Pulls on originals runs: M1841 Rifle 13.875", the M1842 Musket 13.625",, the M1855 Rifle 13.37", the M1855 Rifle Musket 13.4", the M1861/M1863 13.5", the SM1861 13.4", the P1853 Enfield 14.3".
The British later viewed 14.3" as a bit "long," and removed an inch when they "Snyderized" the 4th Model. ;-)
I have never come across a reference or documentation as to "why" trigger pulls were as they were, except for the Snyder observation/change. However, they are "geared" toward a smaller man with shorter arms. ;-)
Curt-Heinrich Schmidt
Steel Rule Mess
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