Original Item: Only One Available. The Springfield Model 1861 was a Minié-type rifled musket shoulder-arm used by the United States Army and Marine Corps during the American Civil War. Commonly referred to as the "Springfield" (after its original place of production, Springfield, Massachusetts), it was the most widely used U.S. Army weapon during the Civil War, favored for its range, accuracy, and reliability.

The barrel was 40 inches long, firing a .58 caliber Minié ball, and the total weight was approximately 9 pounds. The Springfield had an effective range of 200 to 300 yards, and used percussion caps to fire. Trained troops were able to fire at a rate of three aimed shots per minute while maintaining accuracy up to 500 yards, though firing distances in the war were often much shorter. The most notable difference between the Model 1861 and the earlier Model 1855 was the elimination of the Maynard tape primer for the Model 1861 (the Maynard primer, a self-feeding primer system, was unreliable in damp weather, and the priming mechanism was expensive and time-consuming to produce). Further, unlike the Model 1855, the Model 1861 was never produced in a two-banded "short rifle" configuration.

The Springfield was aimed using flip-up leaf sights. The sight had two leaves, one for 300 yards and the other for 500 yards, and with both leaves down, the sight was set for a range of 100 yards. By contrast, the British Pattern 1853 Enfield, favored by the Confederates, utilized a ladder-sight system with 100 yard increments, using steps from 100 to 400 yards and a flip up ladder for ranges beyond 500 yards. While the Enfield's sights did allow finer range settings, the Springfield's simple leaves were more rugged and were less expensive to produce. The Enfield's sights extended to 900 yards (and further, on later models), compared to the 500 yard maximum range of the Springfield's sights. Realistically, though, hitting anything beyond 600 yards with either weapon was mostly a matter of luck. While the sight designs were very different, the two weapons were otherwise very similar, and had very similar effective ranges.

The Springfield Rifle cost $20 each at the Springfield Armory, where they were officially made. Overwhelmed by the demand, the armory opened its weapons patterns up to twenty private contractors, including Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut, who produced approximately 100,000 under contract during the civil war.

Colt became the most notable producer of contract Model 1861 Springfield, as they had made several minor design changes in their version, the "Colt Special" rifled musket. Samuel Colt had acquired machinery that had been used to build Pattern 1853 Enfield rifles from the defunct Robbins & Lawrence Machine Shop & Armory, and as a result was able to make a rifled musket that had the "best" of the British and American designs. These changes included redesigned barrel bands, a new hammer, and a redesigned bolster, all derived from the Enfield tooling he had purchased. Several of these changes were eventually adopted by the Ordnance Department and incorporated into the Model 1863 rifled musket.

In addition to Colt, the "Special Model 1861" was also produced by contractors Amoskeag Manufacturing Company of Manchester, New Hampshire, and Lamson, Goodnow, and Yale of Windsor, Vermont. These companies also had access to the improved British Designs.

The Model 1861 was relatively scarce in the early years of the Civil War (many troops were still using Model 1840/1842 smoothbored muskets and Model 1816/1822 muskets converted to percussion cap primers, both in .69 caliber). It is unlikely that any of these were available for use in the First Battle of Bull Run. However, over time, more and more regiments began receiving Model 1861 rifled muskets, though this upgrade appeared somewhat quicker in the Eastern Theater of Operations. Over 1,000,000 Model 1861 rifles were produced, with the Springfield Armory increasing its production during the war by contracting out to twenty other firms in the Union. The number of Model 1861 muskets produced by the Springfield Armory was 265,129 between January 1, 1861 and December 31, 1863. According to United States Muskets, Rifles and Carbines by Arcadi Gluckman Colonel Infantry, United States Army, published 1949.

After the war ended, many model 1861 and 1863 rifled muskets were modified to a breech loading actions with new metallic cartridges. With these modifications, the basic 1861 evolved into the Springfield Model 1873 which served the US until being replaced in the 1890s by modern breech loading rifles chambered for new smokeless powder rounds that were far superior to the Model 1873.

This example however was not converted, and is still in the original percussion format and correct full length. It looks to have seen long service during the Civil War, and possibly afterwards, now displaying an oxidized patina overall on the metalwork, with evidence of past peppered corrosion with light pitting on the barrel, now removed. It is dated 1864 on the lock plate tail, and is marked under the bolster with:

The markings on the lock are relatively clear and overall the lock plate is in very good condition, especially considering the age, though it definitely shows staining and wear from past service. The cap bolster shows some loss of the contouring, and the "Federal Eagle" marking is only retained very faintly. The cap nipple cone itself shows heavy past oxidation, with the square part at the bottom quite worn.

The breech end of the barrel on the top shows quite a bit of powder residue oxidation, and while the 1863 date is still clear, the original proofs on the left facet have been almost completely removed. The conjoined "VP" proof is also missing, as is the "STEEL" marking on the left side of the barrel. There is a faint "boxed" cartouche on the lower edge of the lock screw bevel, but we were not able to make out the letters.

The lock functions well, with a strong action, and it holds correctly at half cock, releasing only at full. The Colt special three-leaf rear sight is present, but the 300 yard leaf has broken off, and the 100 and 500 leaves are currently frozen. We checked the bore, and it is still in good condition, showing clear three groove rifling, though there is overall fouling with areas of pitting, indicating significant use without proper cleaning. The barrel band U markings are all still present, as is the U.S. on the butt plate.

The one piece walnut stock is in very good condition, showing the lovely red-brown color of aged and oiled walnut. There are no cracks, repairs, or other major condition issues to note, and it has a lovely polished glow. Both sling swivels are present and move stiffly, and the ramrod is a period replacement with the correct tulip-shape, but no cup at the end.

This Colt-produced Special Model 1861 rifled musket retains its Hartford lock markings, 1863-dated barrel, 1864-dated lock, three-groove rifling, Colt-pattern rear sight, iron furniture, both sling swivels, and a period replacement tulip-head ramrod. The lock remains mechanically strong and functions correctly at half and full cock, while the bore retains clear rifling despite fouling and areas of pitting. The metalwork shows an overall oxidized patina, scattered light pitting, worn proofs, and heavy oxidation around the breech and nipple area. The 300-yard sight leaf is missing, the remaining leaves are frozen, and the ramrod is not original to the musket, but the walnut stock remains notably sound with no major cracks or repairs. Overall, it is a substantially complete Civil War-era Colt Special Model 1861 with clear manufacturer markings and condition that reflects extended period use.

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1863 and 1864
Maker: Colt's Patent Firearms Mfg. Co
Model: Special Model 1861 Rifle Musket
Caliber: .58"
Cartridge Type: Minié Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 40 Inches
Overall Length: 56 Inches
Action type: Side Action Lock
Feed System: Muzzle Loaded
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

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IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

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Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.