This is a good example of the Model 1863 Type-2 Springfield Rifle, also known among collectors as the Model 1864, widely used in the climactic Civil War battles of 1864 and 1865. The action is tight and crisp. The bore is minty- bright, with good rifling. This pattern was the culmination of improvements on the original .58 caliber rifle of musket length introduced as the standard infantry long arm in 1855. The 1861 pattern did away with the Maynard tape primer, among other changes, and was further modified with the Model 1863 Type-1, most noticeably in using a recurved, beveled hammer and a shortened nipple bolster without vent screw that provided a short straight vent to the bore ensuring a faster and surer ignition of the charge. That pattern also, unfortunately, did away with retaining springs for the barrel bands, which could then loosen from recoil in firing, hence their reintroduction in the “Type-2” among other changes recommended in November 1863 and approved in December. From March through June 1864 Springfield turned out 58,999 of these rifles; from July through September another 44,040; and from October through December yet another 54,424; with another 96,877 in the first six months of 1865!

This is all original and complete with all bands, springs, rod, sights, swivels, etc. The rear sight has the correct single L-shaped-leaf. The ramrod is the 1863 Type-1 pattern with simple swelled tip rather than knurled edges. The wood has good color and a tight fit to the metal. It shows minor handling marks such as a couple of dings along the top of the side flat, some dings on the flat, and small chips in the ramrod channel, but a generally good surface and good edges not worn from handling, and still retains two partially visible ink cartouches of government inspectors on the side flat. The metal retains sharp markings that include matching 1864 lockplate and barrel dates, the V/P/[eaglehead] barrel inspection stamps at the left breech, and a crisp US/SPRINGFIELD stamp forward of the hammer with a sharp eagle to its left and sharp smaller eagle on the side of the bolster just above. The buttplate and triggerguard tangs show some shallow pitting, but the metal is largely smooth and in the bright, as is correct, with the hammer and lock plate showing some mottled faint blues from color casehardening, and the rear sight showing lots of original blue. The nipple is not battered and the surface next to it is not pitted. The barrel and lock show some scattered gray spots and some brown staining. The muzzle shows some gray spots of shallow pitting or “freckling” with the stock tip shows some brown spots mixed with salt and pepper light pitting.

This is a key rifle in any Civil War collection or display that nicely illustrates the ongoing efforts to improve the arms being issued to troops in the field as the war reached its critical stage.  [sr] [ph:L]

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