An excellent example of the standard Civil War U.S. Infantry long arm, the .58 caliber Springfield rifle musket. All metal is in the bright. Markings are crisp and legible. The wood has a good finish, surface, color and has sharp edges along the barrel and ramrod channels, the lock platform, a tight fit to all the metal, and also shows two light, but visible ink inspector’s cartouches on the left side flat.

The lock is clearly and crisply marked with an 1864 behind the hammer, and U.S. Springfield forward of the hammer, with a Springfield eagle on the plate between the marking and the hammer and on the bolster as well. The eagles, like the lettering, are crisp and sharp. The barrel shows the correct V/P/[eagle head] proofs at the left breech and an 1864 date matching the date on the lock on the barrel between the hammer and the barrel proofs. The buttplate tang has a crisp U.S. stamp as well. Both sights are in place. The rear sight has both sight leaves in place, which also show some thin original blue.

The stock has just a couple of minimal handling marks on the comb and wrist. The wood tightly fits the metal, with no cracks or shrinkage gaps. Two light, but very visible, inspector’s ink cartouches are visible on the left flat, an indicator of very light use. All bands, springs, swivels, etc., are in place, in excellent condition and matching color.

Various changes were introduced in the infantry .58 caliber rifle of musket length during the war. Some were based upon the 1861 “special model” produced by Colt and a few other contractors, such as the use of an S-shaped beveled hammer, bolster without cleanout screw, etc., which resulted in the Model 1863 Type-I. This is the 1863 Type-II, sometimes designated the 1864, whose principal change was to go back to using band springs, eliminated in the 1863 Type-I, to keep the bands from being jarred loose in firing. This one probably dates early in the production. The rear sight retains two sight leaves, eventually changed to one, and the ramrod is the early configuration with a tulip head, eventually changed to a knurled and slotted form.

The bore is bright with excellent rifling. We see only a few gray spots on the hammer and the top barrel flat with some pinprick speckling around the nipple from percussion caps when fired. This would look great in a long arm or Civil War infantry display. May 1864 marked the onset of continuous fighting in the eastern and western theatres as Grant and Sherman struggled to bring the war to a close. This would be a very typical arm used in those hard-fought and decisive campaigns.  [sr]

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!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.

THANK YOU!