Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original U.S. Model 1841 Mississippi percussion rifle manufactured by Eli Whitney of New Haven, Connecticut, with an 1851 dated lock. It remains in worn service used condition and appears to retain its original .54 caliber configuration, with the original fixed rear sight, no added saber bayonet lug, and a heavily worn bore measuring approximately .56" at the muzzle. The rifle also has a full transverse cut through the stock beneath the lower barrel band, along with substantial fore stock loss and other evidence of a long working life.

This is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

A great Civil War Long Gun, the U.S. .54 Caliber "Mississippi" Percussion Rifle was in 1841 way ahead of its time and showed stout service in the American/Mexican War. They were well-regarded, and still in arsenal as the tensions rose, culminating in the U.S. Civil War of 1861-1865. They were in a smaller caliber than desired, but with the thick barrel walls used in construction, this proved to not be an issue, as they could be re-bored to accept the now standard .58 Minié ball used by the Springfield model 1855 and 1861 muskets.

However, not all examples were converted, while the bore on this example is quite worn and fouled, it measures out to only 0.56" with a micrometer at the muzzle. There is no way that this could have ever been converted to .58.

The lock plate is correctly marked beneath the hammer:

E. WHITNEY
U.S.

and on the tail:

N. HAVEN
1851

The absence of a Federal eagle on the lock is correct for this Whitney produced Model 1841. The brass butt plate tang retains a small U.S. marking. No barrel date is presently visible, but the breech retains worn V / P proof marks along with a deeply struck:

U.S.
SK

marking. The SK inspection mark is attributed to Samuel Knous, known from Model 1841 barrels associated with Whitney and Robbins & Lawrence production. On the left side of the barrel is a STEEL marking, and there is a faint oval inspection cartouche survives on the left side of the stock, though it is now too worn to read.

The rifle remains fully brass mounted and retains its brass patch box in the buttstock. The compartment is presently empty. Model 1841 patch boxes were intended to carry small maintenance items and accessories, including spare percussion cones and cleaning tools.

The barrel and other iron surfaces show extensive old peppery oxidation that has been partially cleaned, leaving an aged gray patina with scattered surviving peppering but no widespread deep pitting. There is heavier powder residue corrosion around the percussion cone and bolster, and the cone itself is worn from use and age.

The bore is extremely worn and fouled, with substantial old concreted residue still present despite removal of a considerable amount of accumulated dirt. No original rifling is presently visible. The muzzle measures approximately .56" with a micrometer, and together with the retained fixed rear sight and absence of a later saber bayonet lug, the rifle appears to remain in its original .54 caliber configuration rather than one of the later .58 caliber alterations.

The lock presently operates, but the mainspring is weak and the hammer will release from both half cock and full cock. The half cock notch therefore does not function as intended. This mechanical observation describes only the rifle’s current condition and should not be interpreted as evidence that it is safe to load or fire.

The stock has a light brown appearance and seems to have been refinished at some point with a light oil or varnish coating. It shows considerable service wear and damage, including cracks on the left side around the lock screws, another crack extending forward from the lock plate, and erosion beneath the hammer from percussion residue. An approximately 11" section of wood is missing from the right side of the fore stock extending rearward from the nose cap.

The stock is also cut completely through beneath the lower barrel band. This type of transverse stock cut is often colloquially called a “duffle cut” by collectors, although there is no documented explanation for why it was made on this U.S. rifle, so its purpose and date remain unknown.

The lower sling swivel on the trigger guard remains present and moves freely. The upper swivel at the nose cap has broken away from its base. The ramrod is not the correct Model 1841 type and appears to be a Pattern 1853 Enfield style replacement with a ribbed cleaning jag at the tip and a swollen section in the shaft.

With its 1851 dated Eli Whitney lock, surviving U.S. and SK inspection markings, apparent original .54 caliber configuration, brass furniture and patch box, and extensive service wear, this is an evocative Model 1841 Mississippi rifle from the antebellum and Civil War era. The cut stock, large fore stock loss, cracks, replacement ramrod, broken upper sling swivel, heavily worn and fouled bore, weak mainspring, and unsafe half cock condition are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in a Model 1841 Mississippi rifle, Eli Whitney, Mexican War era, Civil War era, or advanced U.S. martial arms collection.

Specifications:-

Year of Manufacture: 1851
Maker: Eli Whitney
Model: 1841 "Mississippi Rifle"
Caliber: .54 inches - worn to 0.56"
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder with Percussion Cap
Barrel Length: 33 inches
Overall Length: 48 1/2 inches
Action: Percussion Lock
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

A great Civil War Long Gun, the U.S. .54 Caliber "Mississippi" Percussion Rifle was in 1841 way ahead of its time and showed stout service in the American/Mexican War. They were well-regarded, and still in arsenal as the tensions rose, culminating in the U.S. Civil War of 1861-1865. They were in a smaller caliber than desired, but with the thick barrel walls used in construction, this proved to not be an issue, as they could be re-bored to accept the now standard .58 Minié ball used by the Springfield model 1855 and 1861 muskets.

History of the M1841 "Mississippi Rifle"
The M1841 Mississippi rifle is a muzzle-loading percussion rifle used in the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War. When Eli Whitney Blake took over management of the Harpers Ferry Armory in 1842, he set about tooling up under his new contract from the U.S. government for making the model 1841 percussion rifle. Machinery and fixtures for making the 1822 contract flintlock musket had to be retooled or replaced in order to produce the lock and barrel of the new model. Whitney, Jr. had the good sense to hire Thomas Warner as foreman, who, as master armorer at Springfield Armory, had just been making the same kind of major changes there. Thomas Warner had spearheaded the drive to equip the Springfield Armory with a set of new, more precise machines and a system of gauging that made it possible for the first time to achieve, in the late 1840s, the long-desired goal of interchangeability of parts in military small arms. Under his tutelage, Eli Whitney, Jr. equipped the Whitney Armory to do likewise.

The nickname "Mississippi" originated in the Mexican–American War when future Confederate president Jefferson Davis was appointed Colonel of the Mississippi Rifles, a volunteer regiment from the state of Mississippi. Colonel Davis sought to arm his regiment with the Model 1841 rifles. At this time, smoothbore muskets were still the primary infantry weapon and any unit with rifles was considered special and designated as such. Davis clashed with his commanding officer, General Winfield Scott, who said that the weapons were insufficiently tested and refused the request. Davis took his case to the President James Knox Polk who agreed with Davis that his men be armed with them. The incident was the start of a lifelong feud between Davis and Scott.

NOTE: 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.

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.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

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.