M1842 Springfield Musket

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	Weapon: M1842 Springfield Musket Type: Musket Country of Origin: United States Year Adopted: 1842 Caliber: 69 Caliber Action: Percussion Overall Length (mm): 1400.0 Overall Length (in): 55.12 Weight (kg): 4.00 Weight (pounds): 8.82 Effective Range (m): 100 m Effective Range (yards): 109.36

The M1842 Springfield Musket was the first U.S. musket to be produced with fully interchangeable parts, marking a significant step in the standardization of military firearms. It was a smoothbore, .69 caliber musket that featured a percussion lock system, replacing the earlier flintlock mechanisms. The adoption of this musket reflected the growing industrial capabilities of the U.S. during the mid-19th century.

Adopted in 1842, the Springfield saw service during the Mexican-American War and early in the U.S. Civil War. While accurate at shorter ranges, its smoothbore barrel limited its effectiveness at longer distances. Many soldiers later rifled their M1842 muskets to improve range and accuracy, though rifled muskets would soon replace it entirely.

Despite being quickly overshadowed by newer rifled muskets like the Springfield Model 1861, the M1842 Springfield Musket remains historically important as a transitional weapon in the development of U.S. military firearms. It is a significant piece of U.S. military history and is highly valued by collectors and historians.