EXCELLENT LINDSAY M1863 TWO-SHOT RIFLE-MUSKET

EXCELLENT LINDSAY M1863 TWO-SHOT RIFLE-MUSKET

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$5,500.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 490-7640

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

Considering its age, this rifle-musket surely classifies as near fine.  All prominent metal surfaces are smooth and armory bright, with only some very light patina beginning to form near the muzzle and on the ramrod bell. "LINDSAY/PATENT'D.OCT.9.1860" is marked on top of the breech. Rifling remains strong and prominent. Barrel bands are each stamped with “H” sub-inspection letters, while an “L” is noted on the barrel ahead of the breach on the left side.  Breech is stamped “K” on the left side of the tang’s humped lock, and at the top flat of the extended tang assembly. The trigger guard shows a few, localized areas of superficial pitting and what appears to be light surface staining (likely from the wood finish or from cleaning) forward and rear of the trigger guard’s curved trigger housing, which bears an “S” sub-inspection stamp behind the rear screw. Elevated rear sights retain most of the original blued finish, an “H” sub-inspection stamp, and butt plate is “US” stamped on the top flat.

Stock is in overall nice condition. Two oval script "ADK" (Andrew D. King) inspection cartouches are stamped on the left stock flat, a sub-inspection stamp on the stock is noted just to the rear of the trigger guard (“O”), and another on the top flat of the butt stock (“K”) is prominent and sharp.  Minor dings and dents are noted throughout, but are purely superficial and do not detract from the attractive tone and grain pattern of the stock.

Approximately 1,000 of these unique two shot rifle-muskets were manufactured by J.P. Lindsay of New York between 1863-1864. They are known to have been tested by or issued to the 5th, 16th, and 23rd Michigan and 9th New Hampshire. The 9th tested "the new double-shooting rifles" on November 8th, 1864 and found that they "...showed off their demerits to good advantage, flashed, fizzled, and failed famously; enough to secure their condemnation and a speedy exchange to the Springfield rifle." However, it appears the 16th Michigan carried the rifles for at least a short time during the Petersburg campaign.

The Lindsay was designed to always drop its right hammer first to fire the front, superposed charge through a channel that directs the percussion cap’s ignition. If both hammers were cocked, this double rifle musket was intended to initially only drop the right one. What soldiers in the field found out was that the Lindsay, like new recruits, sometimes would have difficulty in telling right from left. If the lefthand hammer dropped first, igniting the back load, heavy recoil ensued as both loads discharged. Few Lindsays received favorable mention from the soldiers that received them in issue.

Soldiers of the 16th Michigan Volunteers in combat at Peebles Farm, VA in 1864 reported that in the heat of battle, simultaneous discharge of both charges was a reportedly common event – due to distraction, or simply forgetting one’s left from right - and the stress of firing a double charge often destroyed the gun.

As innovative as it is rare, this weapon is sure to be a feature of any Civil War collection.  [cm] [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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