1816 Musket Firing Demonstration

[@DarrenWulfen]

I saw this musket at a Southern History museum yesterday and now I know so much more about it! Thanks so much!

[@rosslangsjoen6820]

It isn't the friction of flint on steel that makes the metal shavings hot enough to glow. It's oxidation of the iron in the shavings.

[@AstroRayGun]

Mentioning the flash guard and how it's a modern contraption, I begin to wonder if that's where we get the habit of closing one eye when we aim despite proper aim requiring you to keep both eyes open. I imagine with many men in rank, they'd close their outside eye to protect any sparks from going into his eye.

[@maxwellclark6992]

So without a flash guard, the flash goes out instead of up, and doesn’t really get into your eye, plus they were harder men in those times

[@ShangZilla]

We don't close one eye when aiming because of habit we do it because aiming is easier without stereoscopic vision. Also during the time in combat soldiers wouldn't aim at all, the guns didn't even have crosshairs to aim. They would just point the guns in the general direction of enemy and fire in mass. There was no point in aiming due to how inaccurate the muskets were. That's why period set of orders was: make ready - present - fire. The general infantry tactic would be to come into close range, fire 1 or 2 volleys for shock value and then charge. Either you overrun the enemy or your charge is beaten back.

[@wildrangeringreen]

@@ShangZilla Those muskets with military ammo are accurate enough to hit a man in the chest 7/10 times at 100 yards lol. People have loaded them tight with a large ball and patch and can hit a human torso sized target at 150+ yards. The bayonet lug on the British Land Pattern Muskets serves as a front aiming point, and many of the Spanish, Germanic, Austrian, Italian, Portuguese, Nordic, and French muskets had an actual front sight (some even had rear sights). You would generally begin firing on the other formation at around 250 yards.

[@jeffthebaptist3602]

@@wildrangeringreen Yes the 1816 this gentleman is demonstrating has a front sight that is visible on the front barrel band. US musket training always included "take aim" as a firing instruction.

[@samcoleman5705]

What a beautiful type 1 model.

[@stephenfields6236]

Excellent presentation!

[@jamesnull5415]

Veery good demonstration of that M1816!👍🏻🇺🇸

[@SteveAubrey1762]

A very good, accurate demonstration.

[@Billy_yank1865]

many confederate and union soldiers still used the 1816 early in the civil war but converted to percussion

[@danielomar9712]

And actually , alot of generals preferred the smoothbore because many did "buck and ball" , essentially dumping shotgun pellets into the musket , going up close to the enemy and unleashing hell

[@mickeyholding7970]

Fantastic presentation 👏

[@NauticElk]

Wait, I always thought it was little bits of flint that would chip off. Reasons why you would need a new flint rather than a new frizzen.

[@zebschreiber7357]

the flint needs to be razor sharp and it does chip away when you fire it, but the metal sparks from the hardened frizzen being struck by the flint are what light the priming powder, after a few to several shots the flint needs to be knapped "sharpened" and when there's not enough to knapp then you replace the flint. also the frizzen is case hardened so after a while, a long while, it needs to be re-hardened or replaced. but it is a good ignition system though frustrating at times.

[@NauticElk]

@@zebschreiber7357 Yeah, I watched a video by Britishmuzzleloaders and he said after more than 100 rounds or maybe even more that the steel needs to be redone. But ofcourse the flint is high maintenance.

[@SRP3572]

Really the only place worth going to MA is this place and Lexington/Concord

[@revere0311]

What impression is this?

[@klamar123]

This is in Old Sturbridge Village, which recreates an 1830s New England town. So my guess would his impression is of an early 1830s militiaman during mandatory service training, from the area of Sturbridge, MA. Likely a step above a common laborer, considering his clothes.

[@revere0311]

@@klamar123 thanks!

[@ronaldrobertson2332]

I miss the sight, sound, and SMELL of a good musket. I've been out of the hobby too long.