Short Half-Cock

[Mikevpd]

Gentlemen,
I recently purchased a Euroarms 1861 Springfield (reworked by James River Armory) and I have a question regarding the half-cock position. It seems to be very close to the nipple, making it awkward to cap. I have been using an Armisport 1842 and Euroarms Enfield prior to this and the half-cock position is farther back on each of them.

My question is: Is this a design feature found on the original weapon? Since the 1861 is essentially just a simplfied 1855, did the original designers not take into consideration the need to increase the distance from the hammer to the nipple for placing a percussion cap instead of using the tape primer?

I'm not complaining, I'm just curious. The weapon itself is a fine piece, marked as an 1862 MANTON, and I recommend James River to anyone.

[Jim Mayo]

I don't believe JRA reworks the lock mechanism. That is likely the half-cock that the gun came with. I have an original Norwich and the half-cock is only about a quarter inch from the top of the cone to the hammer cup. My 61 armi-sport is a little more than a quarter inch but under 3/8.

Hope this is some help.

[tompritchett]

My question is: Is this a design feature found on the original weapon? Since the 1861 is essentially just a simplfied 1855, did the original designers not take into consideration the need to increase the distance from the hammer to the nipple for placing a percussion cap instead of using the tape primer?

I own both an Enfield and a Richmond, the Confederate copy of the Springfield. The Richmond's half-cock is considerably closer to the nipple than the Enfield. In addition, there is actually a slight notch on the hammer to help make room for the cap when priming the weapon. This leads me to believe that the short distance was indeed a design feature of the Springfield.

[flattop32355]

You hate to make statements like, "I remember reading somewhere....", as you're never sure that what you say is right.

That said, I recall a statement that our usual, reproduction half-cock is more open the it used to be. I've no idea how long ago or where I read it, just that I did.

Take it for what it's worth, which could be nothing at all.

[hoosiersojer]

Bernard,

You are not alone.I received my '61 Euroarms Springfield new,two years ago with the same problem.(very exasperating in the thick of a firefight)Don't know if this is a design flaw and how common it was,but I do recall a thread on this same subject on either this or the AC forum a year or so ago.There were quite a few others who posted on that thread claiming the same problem with their '61's.
Not much help with a solution to the problem,I realize,but now you know that this isn't something peculiar just to your musket...


Respectfully,


-Kevin Waggoner
4th OVI,Co.B

[cblodg]

the smaller half-cock on the '61 Springfield was a design feature to prevent the cap from falling off the cone if not pinched by the soldier.

Chris

[JustinPrince]

It's the same on my EuroArms 1861. So bad (and I have fat fingers) a couple of times I inadvertantly pulled to full cock and placed the cap... no missfires but I'll never do it again.


I read somewhere it was a holdover from the Model 1855, that because it was *supposed* to be fed by the Maynard Tape primer (which fed out when placed on half cock) placing a percussion cap was a secondary concern. For the Model 1861 the Maynard Primer was deleted, but the basic lock was unchanged leaving the relatively difficult half cock, which now was actually a conern was percussion caps were needed.

The half cock is my only real complaint about my '61. I'll probably complain more now that I've just bought a used 1842... Gonna get spoiled to a better half cock position.

[Mikevpd]

Thanks guys for your replies.

I can almost see it now....two gunsmiths at the Springfield Armory late one evening as they get off from work, having just finished the prototype M1861 rifle-musket. One looks over to the other and says "Aw, man, do ya know what we forgot?"

It's the little things that make this hobby so great. :-)

[JustinPrince]

Thanks guys for your replies.

I can almost see it now....two gunsmiths at the Springfield Armory late one evening as they get off from work, having just finished the prototype M1861 rifle-musket. One looks over to the other and says "Aw, man, do ya know what we forgot?"

It's the little things that make this hobby so great. :-)

Just goes to show some things never change.

Gunsmith1: "Uh sir...we found a flaw in the new rifle-musket. The Half Cock is problematic."
Springfield Armory CEO (or whatever the 1860s term would have been): "How much will it cost to fix?"
Gunsmith: "$500 for the individual fix, $10,000 to retool the machines, and $3,000 to fix the stands already produced."
SA CEO: "Is the weapon shootable? Can it still be used?"
Gunsmith: "Well.... yes, but the lock really needs to..."
SA CEO: "Ship it! The army won't notice! Not like there is another armory to buy from now."

And the rest, as they say, is history. :cool:

[Graves Mercantile]

I had a friend in college who had a short half cock.... (rimshot please)

I've noticed that problem on a couple of the springfields that my old unit used to have. It can be a real hassle to load nipples, but they just dealt with it until we upgraded to 1842's. Good luck.

[billtyrell]

Change tumbler. Take the lock to Bill Osborne at Lodgewood Arms, he will change the tumbler and your hammer will be further back from the nipple. Cost price of tumbler and some labour. I'm sure other gunsmiths can do the same. It seems to be on common problem on Armi sport.

Dave Ward
116th Pa