The Virginia model musket.
--The Commissioners appointed for arming the
State found it necessary, before ordering the machinery for the armory, to prepare a model of the arm to be manufactured at the Virginia works.--After consulting the principal ordnance officers of the army, and learning from the War Department, through
the Hon. James M. Mason, the usage of
European armies, and after a course of experiments with muzzle and breech-loading arms at the Virginia Military Institute, conducted by
Major Colston, the
Commissioners determined to adhere to the muzzle- loading rifled musket for infantry of the line.
In this conclusion, they follow the example of the
American and
European armies, and the advice of all the military men whom they consulted.
Having determined the character of the arm, and its general conformity to the
British and
American regulation muskets, it became necessary to settle its details.
In doing this, the
Commissioners consulted the Master Armorer,
Mr. Salmon Adams, and requested
Mr. Burton's opinion of the relative merits of the
British and
American muskets.
After a careful examination and comparison of an Enfield musket, brought over by himself, and a
United States rifled musket made at
Harper's Ferry, he made a report to the
Commissioners, containing numerous valuable suggestions, which, with the approbation of
Mr. Adams, were adopted.
The result was, a musket conforming in its interior to the
United States musket, and in its exterior to the Enfield musket, with some changes for the better from both.
By permission of those in authority, the model musket was made at the Government works at
Springfield, by
Mr. Adams, who arrived in
Richmond with the arm a few days since, and on Tuesday last exhibited it to the Senate and House Committee on Military Affairs, who were highly pleased with it as a weapon of offence and defence.
We saw the musket ourselves, and regard it in all respects as the most perfect weapon of the kind in existence.
To show the extreme sensitiveness of our Northern neighbors, we may mention a fact that we gleaned at the time — viz: that after the musket was made, by permission, as a model, they were unwilling to let it go, and would have laid an embargo on its transshipment thither if a position of the kind would have been at all tenable.
Mr. Adams, the Master Armorer here, has made himself obnoxious to the
Black Republicans by aiding the shipment of arms South by parties desiring them, an operation which he performed to such an extent that it raised the
Republican ire. The following description of the model musket will give some idea of its superiority as a fire-arm:
Stock — Conforms very nearly to the Enfield stock.
An alteration is made in the shape of the butt, at the point where the toe of the butt plate rests.
Barrel — Length 40 inches, same as the ‘"U.S."’--Exterior form same as the Enfield; barrel to weigh 4 oz. more than the Enfield; this additional weight to be distributed from the lower band to the muzzle; barrel to be browned.
Tip for Stock — Material, brass, same as the Enfield.
Rod Spring — Same as the Enfield.
Lock — Same as the Enfield, except the comb of the hammer, which will be less, both vertically and horizontally.
Bands — Convex adjustable screw bands, after the style of the Enfield.
Butt Plate — Material, brass.
Lateral and longitudinal curvatures will vary slightly from the Enfield.
One curve from the heel to the toe will be observed, in order to facilitate the manufacture.
Butt Screws — Same as the ‘"U.S."’
Side and Tang Screws — Will vary a little from the Enfield.
Ramred — Same length as the ‘"
U. S."’ Diameter of body, 24 inches; head countersunk so as to accommodate the shape of the ‘"
U. S."’ bullet; a small hole drilled nearly of an inch from the end of the head.
Bayonet — Form of blade same as the Enfield; socket same as the ‘"
U. S."’
Leaf Sight — Same as the ‘"
U. S."’
