Springfield Model 1835

The Springfield Model 1835 was a .69 caliber flintlock musket manufactured in the United States during the early to mid-19th century.

The Model 1835 was manufactured by the Springfield and Harpers Ferry armories and also produced by other independent contractors. It was a smoothbore musket and fired a .69 caliber round ball.

The Model 1835 is sometimes considered to be its own model number, but is often considered to be just a continuation of the Springfield Model 1816 designated as the Type III.

The barrel was slightly longer than the Model 1816 and the total weight of the Model 1835 was slightly higher, but otherwise the Model 1835 was very similar to the Model 1816.

Even though the final product was very similar, significantly different manufacturing techniques were used in the creation of the Model 1835, and a great deal of emphasis was placed on parts interchangeability. This paved the way for the Springfield Model 1842 which was the first musket to be constructed of all interchangeable parts.

Most Model 1835 muskets had their flintlocks converted to percussion locks during the 1840s and 1850s as it was more reliable and weather resistant. Some of the Model 1835 muskets also had their barrels rifled during this same period to fire the newly designed Minié ball, if the barrel was deemed thick enough to be structurally sound. However, the greatly increased breech pressure created by the new expanding round was too strong for the conversion process and older musket barrels to withstand and rifled Model 1835 muskets were issued standard .69 caliber round balls instead.

The Springfield Model 1835 was not utilized during the Second Seminole War, as the Model 1816 (Type I), Model 1821/22 (Type II), and Model 1828/30 (Type III) remained widely available. Conversely, the M1839 cavalry Musketoon saw active service.

The Model 1835 was used in the Mexican-American War. The Model 1835 was also used by both the Union and the Confederates during the American Civil War.