This Special Model 1861 Contract Rifle-Musket by Lamson, Goodnow and Yale, is dated 1864 and bears the S-mark of a Confederate inspector working in the cleaning and repair system set up to reissue “captured and collected” arms from prisoners and battlefields, and turned in by C.S. units. These marks are stamped in the underside of the stock just forward of the triggerguard and were first cataloged in Knot’s ground-breaking 2019 “Captured and Collected” Confederate Reissued Firearms. The list has grown slightly from his initial list and includes a D, Y, Z and Ampersand (&,) and this S, known also from an 1863 dated LG&Y and an 1863 dated Colt. Estimates on the number of firearms passing through the Confederate C & R system run as high as 250,000, gathered by ordnance teams and civilians, and turned in by C.S. units for reissue. Most of these guns came from eastern battlefields that Confederate victories left accessible, and the repair work was concentrated at facilities at Danville, Staunton, Lynchburg, and Richmond.

The Special Model 1861 was developed by Colt, who thought it would be the arsenal pattern. It incorporates a number of British features and improvements like a direct vent to ensure better ignition, resulting in a shorter, flat bolster without clean-out screw, consequently thinner lock plate, etc., along with other more noticeable differences like the recurved hammer and clamping barrel bands. Colt supplied a pattern rifle, some tooling, gauges and dies to Lamson, Goodnow and Yale, who had purchased the old Robbins and Lawrence factory in Windsor, Vermont, and had signed a US contract for 25,000 arms just six days after his own contract in July 1861, though he did not send them on for two months, creating a few problems for a competitor. Whatever the reason for the delay, LG&Y obtained a 60-day extension and a contract for another 25,000 guns, delivering 5,000 in 1862, 40,020 in 1863, and 21,000 in 1864.

This rifle rates very good for condition overall. The metal rates near fine, with clean, smooth surface showing bright as issued, and blue still showing on the rear sight and tips of the lock screws, as is correct. The markings are sharp and include matching 1864 barrel and lock dates, V/P/[eaglehead] barrel proofs, the eagle on the bolster, and the correct 1864 pattern LG&Y company stamp “U.S. / LG-&Y / WINDSOR, VT” leaving off the spread-wing eagle, as well as the buttplate tang US, small barrel inspector G, etc. We see only a little speckling to the metal on the nosecap and a few very thin gray spots. The wood shows some handling marks. There is a small sliver on the ramrod channel near the nosecap, some small handling marks on the forestock, a number of dings on the side flat, one very small divot near the buttplate tang and a couple of chips on the toe next to the buttplate. On the whole, however, the wood shows good color and edges and the rifle is particularly nice for gun passing through the Confederate C&R system.   Minty bore, just slightly dirty. Mechanics are excellent.  We also notice an interesting thing about the ramrod. It has the cupped tulip head correct for this rifle, but also bears a four digit number, 3855, that looks very much like the numbering used on Confederate imported Enfields, their bayonets, and their ramrods. We are at a loss to explain it, but one suggestion is that the rod may originally have been a replacement for a lost Enfield rod and subsequently made its way onto this rifle in C&R process. Whatever the explanation, this is a nice looking rifle made in time for use in some of the climactic battles of the war.  [sr] [ph:L]

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