CONFEDERATE RE-ARSENALED HARPERS FERRY 1855 RIFLE AND BAYONET

CONFEDERATE RE-ARSENALED HARPERS FERRY 1855 RIFLE AND BAYONET

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$5,750.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 1284-24

Shipping: Determined by Method & Location of buyer

To Order:
Call 717-334-0347,
Fax 717-334-5016, or E-mail

It is estimated that the Harpers Ferry arsenal manufactured 5,151 Type II Model1855 rifles in the years preceding the Civil War.  The 3-banded version of the Model 1855 was the rifle-musket, while this shorter 2-band version was called a “rifle”. Type II models differed from the Type I in several ways, most notably by replacing brass furniture with iron furniture from the fore-end cap to the butt plate. The US Model1855 Rifle is one of the scarcer primary issue firearms. During its limited production from 1857 until early 1861 it was manufactured in two primary variations (Type I and Type II), with all 7,317 of the rifles being produced at the rifle works at Harpers Ferry in Virginia. The weapon came close to not being manufactured at all, as it was generally considered that since all troops were to be armed with the new US M1855 Rifle Musket, there was no need for an additional “rifle” model. Prior to the adoption of the M-1855 series of arms, the standard US infantry long arm had been the .69 caliber smoothbore musket, Model of 1842. Rifles like this one, and the Model 1841 Mississippi rifle, were produced and issued to specialty troops, but the typical infantryman carried a smoothbore musket. With the adoption of the .58 caliber Model1855 pattern Rifle Musket, all troops would in fact be carrying a “rifle” and the issue of an additional “rifle” model seemed superfluous to the Ordnance Department. However, Secretary of War Jefferson Davis felt that a shorter, “rifle length” arm was desirable to have in production. With the capture of the town of Harpers Ferry by Virginia troops in April of 1861 production ceased.

This Civil War era single-shot muzzleloader a .58 caliber Harpers Ferry Model 1855 percussion rifle is in used but not abused overall condition. This arm has a 33” round barrel, which is secured to the stock with 2 barrel bands and springs. All the furniture is iron including the lock plate, hammer, nose cap, butt plate, trigger guard, swivels and ramrod. All metal, professionally cleaned decades ago, has a "gun metal gray" color with minor pitting from firing only at the breech area. The beveled lock plate holds a spur hammer and houses the Maynard tape priming system. This system employed a waterproof paper tape of percussion caps inserted into the primer magazine held behind a hinged door. This system set a cap onto the nipple when the hammer was cocked and the trigger pulled. The tape priming system mechanics are still strong and smooth. On the face of the Maynard primer “door” the large spread-winged eagle motif is visible. The cock or hammer has a knife-edge lip that severed the expended portion of the primer tape. The lock plate is in nice condition and is marked “U.S." over "HARPERS FERRY” forward of the primer door while the date “1860” is behind the hammer. The rifle has a rear 2 leaf sight and the top leaf it has the correct "R" (Rifle) stamping. There is an iron bladed front sight. On the barrel an "1860" date is clearly visible on the flat ahead of the tang. Proof marks visible on the barrel are "VP" and the eagle head. The fine stock with no repairs has a visible inspector's cartouche on the flat opposite the lock. The saber-bayonet lug is present on the right side of the barrel at the muzzle. The barrel itself features a fine .58 rifled bore with slightly worn rifling. An original leather sling is in place. The brass handled sword bayonet is stamped "US" at the ricasso and the 22-inch blade is in a patina that matches the other metal surfaces of the rifle.

The weapon bears the Confederate C & R letter stamp "T" ahead of the trigger guard. The only obvious visible arsenal modification is to the ramrod. The ramrod in place is a modified Model 1842 ramrod cupped out at the end to facilitate the head of the Minie Ball. This is of course correctly threaded at its base, and the patina matches the rifle perfectly. Inset on the top of the comb is a "period" 1/4-inch metal disc stamped "21"; this is certainly a "rack number".

This is a fine 100% original Confederate carried Model 1855 rifle complete with bayonet and leather sling. It was found in the Winchester Virginia area and has been in one of the finest Confederate collections in this country for years.  [pe][ph:L]

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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