This Civil War era single-shot muzzleloader is a .58 caliber early Harpers Ferry Model 1855 percussion rifle-musket in excellent overall condition. Longarm has a 40” round barrel with broad three-groove rifling. Stock is secured to the stock with three-barrel bands and band springs. All furniture is iron including the lockplate, hammer, bolster, buttplate, triggerguard, swivels and ramrod save the brass nose cap which changed to iron in 1859. All gunmetal has been lightly cleaned and exhibits just small areas of fine rust pitting overall. All metal wears a dull gray coloring. Lockplate stampings sharp and clear and show the large spreadwinged eagle on the front-hinged primer door and the date “1858” stamped behind the large spur hammer. Eagle motif on door is worn down. Beveled lockplate is fitted with a C-shaped hammer, and with the Maynard tape priming system. System employed a waterproof paper tape of percussion caps inserted into the primer magazine that set a cap unto the nipple when the hammer was pulled back and trigger pulled. Tape priming system mechanics still strong and smooth. Hammer has a knife-edge lip that severed the expended portion of the tape. Musket has a large long range rear sight graduated to 800 yards and an iron blade front sight.

This rifle-musket was a government arsenal product from Harpers Ferry in western Virginia. Over two hundred and fifty thousand such longarm weapons were produced for the US Ordnance Dept during the war years. All gunmetal was lightly cleaned and exhibits a dull gray finish. Lockplate surface wears a mottled light gray patina with a smooth finish. Lockplate tang markings with the “US” / HARPERS FERRY” forward of the hammer while the date “1858” is behind the hammer. Barrel breech area clean with minor oxidation and exhibits a strong, sharp date “1858” on the flat. Also, strong proof marks visible on the barrel left facet. Original nipple and bolster.

Mechanics crisp and tight. Bore is dusty but should clean to bright. Rifling visible but not strong. The steel, swelled-shank, tulip-head ramrod is original and retains its threaded tip. All barrel bands are original and secured to the stock via flat iron springs. Black walnut stock is solid with no cracks or splits. Wood surface just lightly cleaned and shows numerous dings and small gouges overall. Two nice government cartouches visible on the flat. Screws not buggered up, save for minor slot wear on the bolster screw. Longarm retains both swivels. Original tulip head ramrod with its threaded tip worn down. A fine, seldom-seen Harpers Ferry Model 1855 rifle-musket of the Civil War era.

DISCLAIMER: All firearms are sold as collector's items only - we do not accept responsibility as to the shooting safety or reliability of any antique firearm. All firearms are described as accurately as possible, given the restraints of a catalog listing length. We want satisfied customers & often "under" describe the weapons. Any city or state regulations regarding owning antique firearms are the responsibility of the purchaser. All firearms are "mechanically perfect" unless noted, but again, are NOT warranted as safe to fire!

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