Photos of my John Hall Arms

[cowtownscout]

Since Dan Shapiro brought up the John Hall arms in a thread over on the Krag forum I volunteered to post photos of the four Hall arms I've got. This is from a thread I posted back in 2015 on another web site forum. I've already posted photos of sniper rifles, bayonets and BP Navy bolt guns here in Culvers.
Scout

Hall History
09/26/2015

John Hancock Hall received a patent for his breach loading design in 1811. Government testing was delayed by War of 1812 and lack of funds afterwards. In 1817 US Army requested 100 rifles for testing and evaluation. Government officially adopted the rifle in 1819 and ordered 1,000 rifles. The production was to be done on the grounds of the National Armory at Harpers Ferry but it took Hall almost 5 years to produce the tools and machinery to make the rifles as they required parts interchangeability. Hall was the first in the US to make arms with the precision of interchangeable parts. The first rifles were assembled in 1824 and all 1,000 were completed that year. The government ordered an additional 1,000 rifles and it took just over 1 year to fill that second order. In 1826 the government conducted a test were 100 rifles were disassembled and the parts mixed together and then reassembled into 100 newly manufactured stocks. There were no problems and the successful test resulted in another order of 3,000 rifles in 1828. Production of the Hall model 1819 continued at Harpers Ferry until 1840 totally about 20,000 rifles.





Hall – Harpers Ferry model 1819 rifle, dated 1831, .52 caliber, Flintlock

Hall – Harpers Ferry model 1819 rifle, dated 1832, .52 caliber, Percussion Conversion

[cowtownscout]

When demand increased for these rifles as state militias started requesting them the Army contracted with Simon North in 1828 who produced 5,700 Hall/North rifles between 1830 and 1836. The Hall rifle first saw action in the Blackhawk War in Illinois and Wisconsin and then again in 1836 during the Seminole War in Florida. Congress authorized raising the first regiment of Dragoons in 1833 and North developed a carbine based on the Hall rifle design for use by these mounted infantry units. From 1834 to 1836 the Hall/North model 1833 carbine was produced by North. Hall at Harpers Ferry produced the model 1836 carbine from 1836 through 1839. The carbines were larger caliber smooth bore instead of the smaller caliber rifles. Several improved versions of the Hall and Hall/North carbines were produced in 1840, 1842 and 1843 including side lever opener. Hall at Harpers Ferry produced a model 1841 rifle with a “Fish Tail” opener, John Hall died that same year. His design process and tools for making interchangeable parts for arms predates Eli Whitney’s process.

This is a link to a video from Forgotten Weapons on YouTube about the model 1836 carbine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rlb0-Wk8xlg

Hall – Harpers Ferry model 1836 carbine, dated 1839, .64 caliber smoothbore, percussion (It's missing the rod bayonet - sure would like to find one)

Hall – Harpers Ferry model 1841 rifle, dated 1841, .52 caliber, percussion

[Dan Shapiro]

NICE!

[bruce]

Thank you for this post. Excellent rifle design for the purpose intended. Sincerely. bruce.

[Dick Hosmer]

Nice, hell, that's fantastic, and very informative. Was struck by one thought though - did you really lay them out bare on an exposed aggregate porch? Made my skin crawl (and a couple seem to have "fresh" rubs)? Extremely well done post - thank you.

[Fred]

Wow! Thanks for this great post!

[03collector]

Nice collection Pete Schmidt who wrote the book on Halls is a good friend. Some of my Hall's are in the book. If you don't have that book it's a must have. My 1824 dated rifle along with my 1840 elbow lever carbine is in the book. Great guns.

[03collector]

My last hall was the rare 1842 brass mounted carbine. Haven't bought any in sometime.

[cowtownscout]

My last hall was the rare 1842 brass mounted carbine. Haven't bought any in sometime.

That 1842 is on my list to acquire but my expectations of finding one and then being able to afford it are not very high. I'll have to look that Hall book up and add it to my reference library.

[03collector]

I know the book is out of print. But im sure you can find it. Pete also wrote two great books in U.S. Flint Muskets. He spent 30 years doing research. Also must have books. Maybe i will post pics. of my Hall's. I have about 17 in the collection. My collection is mostly Springfields and Hall's