This is a really fine rifle musket- one of the best we have seen. There are vivid case colors on the lock, the bore is mint, the metal is wonderful, in the bright, with crisp lock and barrel marks, the wood has crisp wood cartouches. Lock and barrel have matching 1864 dates. All bands, springs, swivels, tulip-head ramrod, and sights are in place. The rear sight shows original blue. The wood has sharp edges and fits the metal tightly. The only blemish is a lightly scratched set of initials on the left side.

The U.S. Model 1863 Type-II rifle musket was the culmination of improvements on the original 1855 rifle musket that first introduced the .58 caliber rifle of musket as the standard infantry long arm. The 1861 pattern had done away with the Maynard tape primer and made some other changes, and further modified with the first 1863s that introduced a recurved beveled hammer and a shortened nipple bolster without vent screw that provided a short straight vent to the bore assuring a faster and surer ignition of the charge. They also, unfortunately did away with barrel band retaining springs, which the “Type-II” reintroduced. More than 157,000 of this pattern were produced by Springfield arsenal in 1864, almost 60,000 by June alone, and almost another 100,000 from January to June 1865. It was widely used in the decisive battles of 1864-1865.

The buttplate has a sharp U.S. and tight fit to the stock, which has great color and maybe one handling mark. The lock and barrel have matching crisp 1864 dates. The lockplate bears the Springfield eagle forward of the hammer and on the bolster, with U.S. / Springfield on plate beneath. Both hammer and lockplate show the mottled blue, purple and yellow colors of case hardening. The barrel and other fittings are beautiful, “in the bright,” as is correct, (except for the rear sight) and have no sign of polishing or any other attempt to improve the metal. It is in original, wonderful condition. The date stamp on the barrel is crisp, as are the V/P/[eagle head] barrel proof marks at the left breech. The lock platform, left side flat and forestock have great edges and a tight fit. The rear sight has loads of original blue, as is correct, and has the correct L-shaped single leaf sighted at 100, 300 and 500 yards.

This is a great example of the 1863 Type-II, that truly rates a place at the top of the gun rack and would upgrade any collection. It would also be a wonderful example of what this classic infantry long arm looked like when issued and display like a million bucks with a mint set of crisp infantry gear.  [sr]

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