CONFEDERATE CAPTURED JOSLYN RIFLE!!!

$4,250.00 SOLD

Quantity Available: None

Item Code: 88-140

Proof positive that the Joslyn rifle was carried into combat!  The Joslyn rifle Model 1864 is a rare, breech loading longarm produced at the Springfield Armory between January and June 1865. Though once considered a post war conversion muzzle loader to a breech loader, the Model 1864 Joslyn rifle is the first, true breech-loading, cartridge-using firearm to be made in substantial quantities at any U.S. National Armory. The rifles were produced and assembled on new made infantry rifles specially designed for actions identical to the more common M1864 Joslyn Carbine.

This breechloading rifle employs the 50-60-450 caliber Joslyn rimfire cartridge. The rifle was also known and commonly listed as a 56-50 caliber and would utilize the .52 caliber Spencer rimfire metallic cartridge in a pinch. Joslyn’s unique loading arrangement consisted of pulling out the breechblock knob, pivoting the breechblock up and to the left and then inserting the round. This rifle, in excellent condition, has a medium gray appearance with no pitting. Barrel tang bears serial # M 1952 as does the breechblock.  All metal including barrel, lock plate, hammer, trigger guard, and butt plate appear not to have been cleaned.

The M1864 Joslyn rifle has a 35½” long, round barrel fitted to a one-piece walnut stock. Longarm has an overall length of 52”. Lock plate in front of the hammer is stamped with “the Spread winged eagle motif” while the rear of the lock plate bears the date “1864”. On the breechblock face is the clear and strong patent stamping of “B.F. JOSLYN’S PATENT / OCTOBER 8TH 1861 / JUNE 1862”. Two-leaf rear sight has a center hole and “V” notch and sits at the rear of the barrel. Front sight at the muzzle tip is a small, brass pinched sight dadoed into an iron base. Blade sight has been filed down, almost flat. Bore is semi bright with thin rifling. Mechanics crisp and tight. Stock is in fine overall condition but shows evidence of field service. The single Inspector's cartouche is deep and clear. The original cleaning rod is in place.

Deeply stamped in the belly of the fore stock is "Z" which is the final inspection stamp of a Confederate Ordnance officer working the CS cleaning and repair system preparing “captured and collected” arms for reissue. The basic text on these is Steven Knott’s 2019 study, which cataloged a number of different arms passing through the system and the work done on them, along with several inspector’s stamps, including this “Z.” At the time the mark was associated with Capt. Louis Zimmer, who supervised C&R operations in Richmond from late 1864 to 1865, but subsequent cataloging of marks indicates they did not necessarily reflect the inspector’s initials. But the "Z" always appears on late war arms. Knott estimates that as many as 200,000 weapons captured or collected by CS ordnance teams or civilians during the war, along with another 50,000 turned in by CS forces, may have passed through the system, mostly from eastern battlefields that fell under Confederate control.  This "Z" mark is beyond a doubt genuine! The Joslyn rifle offered here was in a world class US martial arms collection for well over 50 years with the veteran collector never being able to explain this ubiquitous mark. We can now be certain that these late war Joslyn rifles were carried into battle the last four months of the war. The rifle has an original, late war, Confederate linen sling attached by the last owner who was an advanced Confederate arms collector.  This is a significant find for both the US and CS arms students.  [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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