U.S. Model 1795 Musket, .69
Calibre
Commonly called the "Springfield
musket," this was the standard long arm of the American infantry during
the war and derived from a French weapon supplied during the
revolutionary war. During the War of 1812, contracts were let out to
private manufactuers such as Eli Whitney who manufactured this
particular weapon in 1812. American weapons production was impressive.
It is estimated that by 1814 about thirty thousand muskets were being
produced annually in the United States.
U.S. Model 1795 Musket, .69
Calibre
This particular weapon was
manufactered by the government armoury at Springfield in 1809. Firing a
lighter and smaller ball than it's British counterpart, the Springfield
had less hitting power. The enlargement shows details of the ignition
system. The screw clamp jaws of the cock held a flint that, when the
trigger was pulled, was brought into contact with the frizzen, a hinged
piece of steel (here shown in the open postion) striking sparks that
ignited the powder in the pan (between the cock and the frizzen) that
set off the charge in the barrel by means of the vent hole (not
shown).