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Lewis and Clark
Weapons: Muskets
The other weapons
used on a daily basis were the “Charleville pattern” musket
which was the standard weapon of US soldiers of the time. The
musket was a 69 caliber smoothbore, which is now called the
“Model 1795 Springfield” musket.
Lewis and Clark
Weapons
Both the rifle and musket weighed nearly 10 pounds and required
nearly one minute to load a single patched shot. Lead balls,
powder horns and powder measures, were required accessories.
Lewis and Clark
Weapons: Care and Maintenance of Weapons
It was essential for the weapons had to be kept in good working
order and each man was issued with a barrel stopper, called
a tompion, in order to keep rain, snow, mud and dirt ot of the
weapons. It was also obligatory to have a rawhide cover, called
a "cow's knee" to keep the lock, frizzen (striker), and
pan dry.
Lewis and Clark
Weapons: Large Weapons - The Cannon and Blunderbuss
Larger weapons were also supplied to the expedition and used
as weapons on the boats. A small 1.5 inch bore cannon, or swivel
gun, was mounted on the bow of the keelboat, and a large-bore
shotgun, called a blunderbuss, on a swivel guide was mounted
on the stern of the keelboat. The pirogues (flat-bottomed boats
for hauling supplies on inland waters) each had a blunderbuss
mounted on its bow.
Lewis and Clark
Weapons: The Isaiah Lukens Air Rifle
Isaiah Lukens, a gun maker from Pennsylvania provided Lewis
and Clark with one Air Rifle. The Isaiah Lukens Air Rifle
fired its bullet with compressed air, rather than by flint,
spark, and powder. The air rifle therefore used compressed air
to shoot its .31 caliber bullet. It was different to the black
powder rifles as it made little noise or smoke when fired but
the weapon possessed astounding power and extremely rapid. The
Isaiah Lukens Air Rifle could fire between 20 to 40 shots before
recharging with the air pump.
Lewis and Clark
Weapons: The Spontoon
In addition to the amazing air rifle Lewis also carried a weapon
called a spontoon. The spontoon was a type of European half-pike
halberd, a pole-arm which that was once used as the primary
weapons of all foot soldiers. The spontoon was replaced by modern
weapons but it was later used as a symbol of rank and used it
like a mace, in order to issue commands to their soldiers.
Lewis and Clark
Weapons: Additional types of guns
As leaders of the expedition Lewis and Clark were allowed to
take additional personal guns. Meriwether Lewis Lewis took a
case of matched pistols and an extra-long smoothbore, called
a "fowler". William Clark took a small 36 caliber "squirrel
rifle" and an "elegant fusil" which was a light-weight gentleman's
sporting smoothbore weapon. Both leaders also carried a military-issue
"horseman's pistol" Lewis and Clark both used their personal
weapons to trade with the Native Indians for supplies.
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