This Civil War era single-shot muzzleloader is a .58 caliber Harpers Ferry Model 1855 percussion rifle-musket in very fine to 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 three 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 is clean with patches of surface rust and overall areas of dark spotting.

All lockplate stampings sharp and clear. The large spread-winged eagle on the kidney-shaped, hinged primer door, along with the date “1858” deeply stamped behind the large, high spur hammer. Large eagle motif on door is still high in detail, including stripes on shield and feathers. Lockplate marked with the “U.S. / HARPERS FERRY” forward of the hammer. Barrel breech area is smooth with a sharp date “1858” on the flat. The eagle head and proof marks are visible on the barrel left facet. Inspector’s initials “WCK” appear on right facet. Original nipple.

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 very strong and smooth. Hammer has a knife-edged, bottom 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. Mechanics crisp and tight. Bore is clean with good rifling. The original, steel, swelled-shank, tulip-head ramrod retains its threaded tip. All barrel bands are original and secured to the stock via flat iron springs. Buttplate is stamped “US” and “60”. Handsome black walnut stock is solid with no cracks or splits. Wood surface is very good, smooth. Two sharp government cartouches are visible on the flat as is the “WCK” inspector’s initials. Screws not buggered up and both swivels remain.

An exceptional, Harpers Ferry Model 1855 rifle-musket. From the Elmo Phillips collection. [jet]

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