Original 1863 Springfield Type II Rifle Musket

[44caliberkid]

Just thought I'd share my latest acquisition with my dark arts bro's.  I got it cheap, very rusty wall hanger, missing lots of parts.  I completely disassembled it and started everything soaking in Ballistol.  It apparently spent a long time standing upright in a barn.  A fine brown dirt had settled in the bottom of the barrel and ramrod hole about 2 inches deep.  I made a scraper from a coat hanger and got it all busted loose and out of the gun.  The butt plate and butt end of the stock were the worst from sitting on the floor, getting wet and drying out over and over.
  After I gently cleaned the stock it was all the same color again and is looking great after some coats of boiled linseed oil. I only used 0000 steel wool, no sanding, just removed the dirt. Still has a lot of battle scars.
  I took Ballistol and Brownells stainless steel sponge to the metal parts.  This just removes rust and leaves any original finish intact. Other than some heavy pitting around the breach end of the barrel it came out pretty good with a lot of original blue still left.  I was thrilled when after cleaning the government eagle showed up on the end of the bolster.  I also uncovered the US marking on the butt plate just this morning. I ordered replacement parts from S&S Firearms and got mostly original parts except for the nipple, one barrel bands spring, and the trigger guard sling loop.
  When she's done she'll look like a well used war veteran.  I've wanted one of these for a long time but couldn't afford a nice one. Yes, I will shoot this puppy when it's done.

[pony express]

Congratulations! Now, where's the pics?

[Blair]

44caliberkid.

I too wish you luck on this project.

Should you find yourself in need of a new "drop in barrel" or perhaps a new rifled sleeve in an old barrel... I have two such leads I can offer you should you be interested?
My best,
Blair

[44caliberkid]

Thank you Blair, might be in touch.  A lot has cleaned up better than I thought it would.  For instance, the lock came out real nice except for one little bit of pitting around the eagle on the plate.  Looks as good as the lock on one I found on the net that sold for $2400 dollars. Haven't really even had a good go at the barrel yet except soap and water and moose milk.  It's in pieces now, but I'll get pics up when it's done.

[Montana Slim]

Reminds of a CW musket (springfield), similar to yours...which I spotted above the mantle in my wife's G-Grandmothers home..bout 30 years ago. It hadn't been touched in many years, not cleaned or oiled. She let me take it home for cleanup, as I couldn't stand thinking it would deteriorate. I gave it the once over and even the bore cleaned decent..everything really looked well, except the nipple, which was smashed very badly. All this piece needed to be worthy of firing was a new one. I mentioned to my Father in-law, who told me he and his friends played with that old gun all the time as kids and it had probably spent several years lying outdoors in the flower bed near their house. Haven't seen that rifle since I returned to G-grandmother Opal. She past a few years later... one of my wife's brothers had the rifle last I knew.

Slim