What was the earliest RIFLE made at Harper's Ferry? I thought before the 1803 Rifle the only rifles used by the military were "Contract" rifles supplied by private makers.
The reason I ask is that I am currently reading DeVOTO's Lewis & Clark Expedition. In this edition there is mention of extra locks made at Harper's Ferry for the rifles on the Expedition. There is also mention of shooting the rifles in front of NDN tribes to show them the better accuracy of their rifles compared to the fusils or "guns" of the NDNs.
I realize nothing is etched in stone but most folks claim the L&C Exp. carried "Contract" rifles but that doesn't seem to jibe with the idea extra locks were made at Harper's Ferry for the rifles. There has also been some speculation that the 1803 Rifle may have had early proto-types that were taken on the L&C Exp.
Let me restate all this a bit, as to my thinking..
1. If contract rifles were carried it seems that new, "best of the best" would be selected. If extra locks were needed, it seems the private contractor supplying the rifles would have made the locks.
2. If prior to the 1803 Rifle only muskets were made at Harper's Ferry, it seems the only locks they would have or easily make would be large musket locks.
3. On the contract rifles- I thought there was minor variation between the various suppliers. A replacement lock for one contract rifle might be a little different in shape than another supplier's contract rifle.
The reason I ask is that I am currently reading DeVOTO's Lewis & Clark Expedition. In this edition there is mention of extra locks made at Harper's Ferry for the rifles on the Expedition. There is also mention of shooting the rifles in front of NDN tribes to show them the better accuracy of their rifles compared to the fusils or "guns" of the NDNs.
I realize nothing is etched in stone but most folks claim the L&C Exp. carried "Contract" rifles but that doesn't seem to jibe with the idea extra locks were made at Harper's Ferry for the rifles. There has also been some speculation that the 1803 Rifle may have had early proto-types that were taken on the L&C Exp.
Let me restate all this a bit, as to my thinking..
1. If contract rifles were carried it seems that new, "best of the best" would be selected. If extra locks were needed, it seems the private contractor supplying the rifles would have made the locks.
2. If prior to the 1803 Rifle only muskets were made at Harper's Ferry, it seems the only locks they would have or easily make would be large musket locks.
3. On the contract rifles- I thought there was minor variation between the various suppliers. A replacement lock for one contract rifle might be a little different in shape than another supplier's contract rifle.