Harpers Ferry Model 1855

History

The Harpers Ferry Model 1855 percussion-based rifled rifle was widely used during the American Civil War (1861-1865). From 1857 to 1861, the Harpers Ferry and Springfield Armory produced 59,273 long guns.

This gun turned out to be one of the last muzzle-loading "long guns" in the world to be widely adopted by national armies, basically marking the end of the whole musket (breech-loading rifle was the next logical development). Sources indicate that almost all Model 1855 production rifles were used in the Civil War, which attests to the importance of weapons with fairly advanced basic characteristics at the time.

Issued primarily to regulars in the Union Army, the Model 1855 is highly sought after and cherished by volunteer troops fortunate enough to encounter this type.

As a shock-based firearm, the Model 1855 uses a "Shock Cap" to ignite the desired primer. Before the invention of percussion guns, operators used the "Flintlock" ignition system, an improvement over the early "matchlock" and "wheel lock" developments, but themselves limited by wet weather conditions that led to misfires.

The shock-based arrangement now protects the primer from the elements and proves to be a more robust and reliable ignition system. Because shock-based weapons can still be operated with a "trigger" arm (now as a real "hammer" rather than an arm designed to hold a piece of flint), many flintlock weapons can re-equip the gun over time based on shock, Allow money and motivation.

The shock-based system relies on his hammer hitting the shock cap mounted on the nipple, which ignites the primer powder in the gun. The cap is worn by the operator on the gun before firing and is usually a small cylinder made of brass or copper - with the cap on one end and a small amount of "dynamite" on the other. Once the operator has the gun loaded and the primer installed, all they have to do is cock the hammer and pull the trigger, releasing the hammer onto the waiting primer. The ignition of the primer powder then pushes the "ball" bullet out of the barrel by simple pressure and force. The percussion-based system is still applicable today, although it is primarily considered a "cap rifle" in a slightly evolved form.

Primers were introduced around 1820.

Specification

Base

Year of Service

1857

Origins

United States

Categories

Percussion Rifle

Manufacturer

Harpers Ferry / Springfield Armory - USA

Operator

Allied Powers; United States

Roles

musket

Loading ancient guns from the muzzle; fully manual operation on the rear of the frame; poor accuracy forces large numbers of soldiers to fire at once for best results.

Dimensions and Weight

Overall Length

1,066 mm

41. 97 inches

Barrel length

1,016 mm

40. 00 at

Cured weight

9.92 lbs

4.50 kg

Attractions

Rear adjustable folding wings; front iron block.

Action

Maynard Primer System; Muzzle Loading

Cartridges and Paper Feeds

Caliber*

. 58 mini balls

Circle/Feed

Single Shot

POWER

Maximum efficiency. Arrived

1,800 feet

(549 m | 600 m)

Rate of fire

2

Number of revolutions

Variant

Model 1855 Rifle Rifle - Name of the basic series; 40" barrel length with three treadmills; produced 1857-1861. Model 1855 Carbine - A shortened version of the Model 1855 with a 33-inch barrel and twin barrels; production reached 7,016 before 1861.