{"product_id":"original-u-s-civil-war-colt-special-model-1861-springfield-rifled-musket-refinished-dated-1863","title":"Original U.S. Civil War Colt \"Special Model 1861\" Springfield Rifled Musket - Refinished - dated 1863","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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 (rather than the flintlocks of the 18th century, the last U.S. flintlock musket was the Model 1840). 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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\u003cstrong\u003e Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company\u003c\/strong\u003e of Hartford, Connecticut, who produced approximately 100,000 under contract during the civil war.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eColt 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 \u0026amp; Lawrence Machine Shop \u0026amp; 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn addition to Colt, the \"Special Model 1861\" was also produced by contractors \u003cem\u003eAmoskeag Manufacturing Company\u003c\/em\u003e of Manchester, New Hampshire, and \u003cem\u003eLamson, Goodnow, and Yale\u003c\/em\u003e of Windsor, Vermont. These companies also had access to the improved British Designs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Model 1861 was relatively scarce in the early years of the Civil War (many troops were still using Model 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis example however was not converted, and is still in the original percussion format, and correct full length. It was however smooth bored out to about 20 bore ( 0.62\"), possibly for use as a fowler after the rifling was worn. It also was completely refinished, with a nice varnish on the wood, and the metalwork was buffed and completely hot blued, giving it a very attractive appearance, albeit not a period correct one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is dated \u003cstrong\u003e1863\u003c\/strong\u003e on the lock plate tail, and is marked under the bolster with:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eU.S.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOLT'S PT. F. A. MFG Co.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHARTFORD CT.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe markings on the lock are mostly clear, and there is not much sign of damage or corrosion prior to the refinishing. The Federal Eagle marking on the cap bolster is completely worn away. The \u003cstrong\u003eV \/ P \/ Eagle's\u003c\/strong\u003e Head proofs on the barrel nocks form are still present and mostly legible, however the date marking on the top is missing. It now has an \u003cstrong\u003eF \/ 50\u003c\/strong\u003e rack number marking on the barrel tang. The lock functions correctly, with a strong action, and it holds at half cock. This gun has the Colt Special double leaf rear sight, and both barrel bands still have their \u003cstrong\u003eU\u003c\/strong\u003e markings, with a \u003cstrong\u003eU.S.\u003c\/strong\u003e on the butt plate tang. The ramrod is the correct and original tulip type.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe metalwork still retains almost all of the heavily polished blued finish, with almost no wear. It is bright and shiny, so we suspect it was done relatively recently. Both sling swivels are still present and functional, and the rear sight leaves move correctly. The stock has a lovely brown color and glossy surface from the varnish. There are some dents and scrapes, which look to have happened after refinishing. There are no stock cartouches present anymore due to the refinishing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is a great chance to pick up a Civil War \"Colt Special\" Contract Rifled musket, refinished to make it a fantastic show piece! If you were looking for a lovely example, this is it!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYear of Manufacture:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 1863\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCaliber: .58\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCartridge Type: Minie Ball and Powder\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 40 Inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOverall Length: 56 Inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAction type: Side Action Lock\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeed System: Muzzle Loaded\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40209435033669,"sku":"ONJR22AJS54","price":1495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ONJR22AJS54__01.jpg?v=1658528860","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-civil-war-colt-special-model-1861-springfield-rifled-musket-refinished-dated-1863","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}