This Model 1841 Harpers Ferry “Mississippi” Rifle is in excellent-plus condition with a super condition bore and exceptional stock. Assembled in 1850, this rifle was upgraded by the arsenal to bring it into line with the 1855 series of arms sometime between mid-1856 and mid-1859. The lock plate shows crisp markings behind the hammer reading, "HARPERS / FERRY / 1849" vertically in three lines. Forward of the hammer is an equally sharp Harpers Ferry Eagle and Shield over  "U.S." The barrel date is 1850, a perfectly acceptable and original difference from the lock date indicating only that the lock was made at the end of 1849 and the barrel at the beginning of 1850, when the gun was then assembled. The wood fits the metal tightly and has sharp edges around the lock platform and has overall warm, reddish brown tones. The wood surface is near fine, with minimal handling marks and crisp inspector stamps on the left flat: “WCK” and “JHK.” The edges of the interior of the patchbox are sharp. The box shows the proper auger marks and still has extra nipple.

The brass has an even, warm mustard color, with just a bit of green on the inside of the patchbox door. The barrel markings are sharp: “AW / P” just forward of the “V / P / [eagle head]” on the left breech, with the 1850 barrel date on the breechplug tang. The metal is smooth. The lock plate shows a muted silver-gray, with the hammer and bolster showing a bit more color. The barrel has a thin blue turned plum brown finish remaining, the authorized finish for long-range rifles starting in late 1858, which fits the dating of its upgrade. The screw heads even retain their original deep blue.

The arsenal at Harpers Ferry performed several different alterations on the Mississippi rifle. This rifle conforms to Moller’s Type III. A bayonet lug was affixed to the right muzzle for the sword bayonet and the front sight was altered to the 1855 pattern, giving it a sight base for the bayonet muzzle ring to rest against. Also to accommodate the bayonet, the stock forend was shortened 2 ¼ inches and a new, shorter nose cap was fitted. The rifle was rebored and rifled to .58 caliber to bring it into conformity with the 1855 series of arms, and the 1855 long range rear sight was installed. Lastly, the barrel was reproofed and stamped by ordnance subinspector W.C. Kirby on the right barrel breech forward of the nipple. His initials then also appear on the left stock flat along with the J.H.K. initials, which are likely for the earlier inspection of the stock. A small depression just below the W.C.K. may be where an earlier final inspection mark was removed by the arsenal, but the stock is fine overall, with minimal handling marks. This is a extremely nice and very desirable example of a scarce Harpers Ferry Model 1841 Mississippi Long Range Rifle.  [SR]

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