May 23rd 2015 Premier Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/22/2015
After the capture of Harpers Ferry, the Confederates salvaged all of the manufacturing equipment from the Federal armory and moved it to Richmond. The dies used for the lockplates were from the Model 1855 musket which employed the Maynard priming system, obsolete by the start of the Civil War. The Confederates continued to use the same dies leaving the "high hump" but did not mill it for the primer system. This musket, produced in 1862, is very similar to the Federal Model 1861 muskets, it was designed as a single shot .58 cal. rifled muzzleloader, and featured iron buttplate, "C" shaped hammer, bolster with clean out screw, two leaf sight, iron trigger guard, three flat barrel bands held in place with springs, two strap hooks on middle band and trigger guard, tulip head ramrod with straight shank and threaded end, and iron nose cap held in place with a screw. Barrel is marked "VP" over eagle, there was not a date on the barrel and the buttplate is not marked. Lockplate is marked "1862" behind the hammer and "CS / RICHMOND VA" in front. The flat bands are each marked "U", the off-center U is a distinct Richmond mark. Wood inside the lockplate has been carved for a "mule foot", this is Confederate carving and is distinct from the Harpers Ferry groove which was carved for the Maynard system. The barrel is milled to a "T" mortise, this was a Confederate innovation to better secure the rear sight. A rectangle cartouche may be found in the wood opposite the lock, it is usually weak. Manufactured in Richmond, Virginia from 1861 to 1865. It is a .58 caliber percussion muzzle loader with a 40" barrel, three barrels bands, sling swivel, front sight that acts as lug for bayonet. Hammer and lock retain generous amounts of color case. Screws have generous amounts of fire blue. Barrel is in the white and has been cleaned, as have all the barrel bands and trigger guard. There is some light freckling on the trigger guard. Features brass fore end tip, tulip ramrod, and 1863 Springfield style rear sight with much of the original blue finish. Stock has no visible cartouches. Top of brass buttplate is stamped "RS" with the fire blued screws. Walnut stocks are beautiful, near mint, with all the original patina and some minor spotting. Barrel bands have a "U" on right side. Has a vintage to the gun tan linen and leather sling with a replaced single leather frog. Has a clean smooth bore. Extremely difficult to find in such clean condition. No pitting of any kind. Approximately 30,000 manufactured. Arguably the cleanest of these rifles we have seen.