The Bridesburg Machine Works, also referred to as Alfred Jenks and Son, was run by Barton Jenks of Philadelphia. Located along the Delaware River on the northeast side of Philadelphia, the firm had experience making machinery for spinning and weaving and became a large supplier of long-arms in the Civil War, selling parts to other makers and during the war delivering more than 92,000 rifle muskets on five U.S. contracts, the first of which was assigned in July 1861. Production problems delayed the first delivery until August 1862, but by the end of the year they had delivered some 6,500 guns and continued apace.

This one has matching 1862 lock and barrel dates. It also uses an 1858-pattern rear sight, indicating it was likely pretty early in the production run. The wood is very good overall with warm brown color showing some darker areas and mottling on the side flat from a worn old finish. The wood to metal fit is tight throughout. The lock apron and side flat have good edges, as does the barrel channel. The buttstock flats show handling marks, with some light drag lines, but just two checks on the left toward the wrist and one on the right midway between comb and buttplate. The side flat shows scratches, but at least one cartouche in an oval border is clearly visible. The rear lock screw shows some sign of turning.

All bands, springs, swivels, sights, nose cap and ramrod are in place and match the barrel is being smooth metal, originally bright and now showing as a muted silver or steel. The only exception is the rod, which shows a little brown forward of the nose cap and the rear sight that shows on the gray side from rubbed blue. The nipple is not battered. There is no burn-out under the hammer. The fit of the breechplug tang is tight. The V/P/eagle barrel proofs and the 1862 barrel date are crisp and match the lock marks for condition.

The lock is crisply dated 1862 to the rear of the hammer and has a crisp eagle forward of the hammer and “U.S.” over “Bridesburg” below the bolster. The lock plate and bolster are a smooth muted silver. The hammer shows gray spotting a shallow pitting. The slots of the hammer and clean-out screws are crisp. The action is crisp and the bore is semi-bright with strong rifling.

The underside of the stock shows a white inventory number, 797, just above the triggerguard tang. This comes from the recently dispersed collections of the War Library and Museum in Philadelphia. Incorporated in 1888 by the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, the veterans’ organization for Union officers, this was the repository for a world-class collection of artifacts housed since 1922 in a Philadelphia townhouse. The museum closed in 2008. Many of their holdings made their way to other institutions, but we recently purchased a number pieces from them at auction and the inventory number is nice sign of this provenance.  [sr] [ph:L]

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