Model 1816 Musket

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	Weapon: Model 1816 Musket Type: Musket Country of Origin: United States Year Adopted: 1816 Caliber: .69 Caliber Action: Flintlock Overall Length (mm): 1420.0 Overall Length (in): 55.91 Weight (kg): 4.60 Weight (pounds): 10.14 Effective Range (m): 100 m Effective Range (yards): 109.36

The Model 1816 Musket was a flintlock smoothbore musket that became the standard infantry weapon for the U.S. military during the early 19th century. Based on the earlier Model 1795, the M1816 incorporated design improvements influenced by the French Charleville musket, featuring a .69 caliber barrel, a 42-inch barrel length, and an overall length of 58 inches. The musket was manufactured primarily by the Springfield and Harpers Ferry arsenals, with additional production by various contractors. It used a flintlock ignition system, later converted to percussion cap ignition in many examples, and was designed for use with a socket bayonet to improve effectiveness in close combat.

Production of the Model 1816 Musket began in 1816 and continued through the early 1840s, with approximately 675,000 units produced. It was the most widely issued firearm in the U.S. military before the adoption of rifled muskets. The M1816 saw service in multiple conflicts, including the Black Hawk War, the Second Seminole War, and the Mexican-American War. Many were later converted to percussion ignition in the 1850s, extending their service life into the American Civil War, where they were primarily issued to second-line troops and state militias. Despite being outdated compared to newer rifled firearms, the M1816 remained in service due to its durability and widespread availability.

The Model 1816 Musket holds historical significance as one of the longest-serving flintlock weapons in U.S. military history. While its smoothbore design limited accuracy compared to later rifled muskets, it was reliable, easy to manufacture, and well-suited for massed volley fire tactics of the era. Today, surviving examples of the M1816 are prized by collectors, and many are displayed in museums as an important artifact of early American military history. Its conversion to percussion ignition also highlights the transitional period between flintlock and more modern firearms in the mid-19th century.