| Springfield Model 1840 | |
| Origin: | United States |
| Type: | Musket |
| Is Ranged: | yes |
| Service: | 1840–1865 |
| Used By: | United States Confederate States |
| Wars: | American Indian Wars Mexican–American War American Civil War |
| Design Date: | 1840 |
| Manufacturer: | Springfield Armory Harpers Ferry Armory D. Nippes L. Pomeroy |
| Production Date: | 1840–1846 |
| Number: | c. 30,000 |
| Weight: | 9.8lb |
| Length: | 58inches |
| Part Length: | 42inches |
| Cartridge: | Paper cartridge, buck and ball/musket ball undersized (.65/16.510 mm) to reduce the effects of powder fouling |
| Caliber: | .69 in (17.526 mm) |
| Action: | Flintlock/percussion lock (conversion) |
| Rate: | User dependent; usually 2 to 3 rounds per minute |
| Velocity: | 1000ft/s to 1200ft/s |
| Range: | 100 to 200 yards, in reality 50 to 75 yards |
| Max Range: | 300 yards (275 m)[1] |
| Feed: | Muzzle-loaded |
| Sights: | A front sight cast into the upper barrel band, rear sight (percussion/rifled conversion) |
The Springfield Model 1840 was a flintlockmusket manufactured by the United States during the mid-19th century. The .69 caliber musket had a 42-inch (107 cm) barrel, an overall length of 58 inches (147 cm), and a weight of 9.8 pounds (4.4 kg). More than 30,000 were produced by the Springfield and Harpers Ferry armories and two independent contractors between 1840 and 1846 (D. Nippes and L. Pomeroy).[2]
The Model 1840 was a minor improvement over the Springfield Model 1835, and therefore was not dramatically different from the older musket. The Model 1840 featured a longer bayonet with a clasp and a stock with a comb. The designers of the Model 1840 anticipated that the musket would eventually be rifled, and made the barrel heavier than the earlier Model 1835 accordingly. The various modifications to the Model 1840 made it slightly heavier than the Model 1835.[3]
The Model 1840 was the last flintlock musket produced at Springfield and Harpers Ferry armories. Many were converted to percussion lock before they made it to the field. Although produced as a smoothbore musket, most of the Model 1840s had their barrels rifled later, as the designers had anticipated.