Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very attractive U.S. Model 1841 Mississippi Rifle manufactured at the Harpers Ferry Armory in 1852 and subsequently converted from its original .54 caliber configuration to accept the standard .58 caliber Minié ball. The rifle displays a strong combination of Mexican American War era design, Civil War conversion features, matching 1852 dates, full brass furniture, and an exceptionally well preserved bore that remains mostly mirror bright with visible machining marks.

The Model 1841 was a remarkably advanced military rifle when adopted. Originally produced in .54 caliber, it earned an excellent reputation for accuracy and reliability during the Mexican American War. Large numbers remained in federal and state inventories as sectional tensions increased, and many were altered to .58 caliber so they could use the same ammunition adopted for the Model 1855 and Model 1861 rifle muskets. The Model 1841 was placed into production at Harpers Ferry in 1846, with approximately 70,000 manufactured by the national armory and government contractors through 1855.

This rifle was definitely converted and now has a .58 caliber barrel with three broad rifling grooves. The observed conversion features appear consistent with work undertaken at a National Armory or government facility, although no specific conversion record accompanies the rifle. The rear sight was replaced with a National Armory style ladder sight of the type seen on other converted examples, and a bayonet lug was added to the right side of the barrel near the muzzle.

These features are not consistent with the commonly encountered Colt conversion pattern. Colt altered rifles generally used a bolt on bayonet lug and a three leaf rear sight derived from the Colt revolving rifle. The combination of three groove rifling, ladder rear sight, and brazed or otherwise permanently attached side bayonet lug seen here more closely resembles the government conversion configuration.

The lock plate is marked at the center:

(EAGLE) / U.S.

The lock plate tail is correctly marked:

HARPERS
FERRY
1852

The barrel tang also bears an 1852 date, giving the rifle matching lock and barrel tang dates. We were unable to identify the original barrel proof marks, which appear to have worn away. The stock was also carefully examined, but no inspection cartouches, unit markings, or other stock markings are currently apparent.

The rifle is fully brass mounted, including the buttplate, trigger guard, barrel band, side plate, and distinctive brass patch box in the right side of the buttstock. The patch box was intended to hold cleaning and maintenance accessories and could also accommodate spare percussion components and ammunition related items.

Inside the patch box is the original socket intended to hold a spare nipple cone. A nipple remains in the socket, although it is oxidized and fouled from use. This was an important practical feature, as a damaged, clogged, or broken nipple could render a percussion arm temporarily unusable. Carrying a replacement directly within the rifle allowed the soldier to restore the weapon to service in the field. No additional tools or accessories are present inside the patch box.

The stock has an attractive red brown color and a lightly varnished surface. It appears to have been refinished at some point, and wood filler repairs are visible around the barrel tang. These repairs and the refinished surface are fully disclosed but do not detract significantly from the rifle’s strong overall presentation or the visual appeal of its brass mounted Harpers Ferry configuration.

Both sling swivels remain present and move freely. The ramrod is a replacement and does not have the brass tip normally associated with the original pattern, although the narrow end retains its threads. The percussion lock is fully functional, holding correctly at half cock and releasing properly from full cock.

The bore is an outstanding feature of this rifle. It remains in excellent condition and is mostly mirror bright, with original machining marks still visible. There is only a small amount of oxidation near the muzzle. The exceptionally clean rifling and visible machining marks suggest that the rifle saw little to no use following its conversion to .58 caliber.

The U.S. Model 1841 became popularly known as the “Mississippi Rifle” following its use during the Mexican American War by the Mississippi Rifles under Colonel Jefferson Davis. Davis successfully petitioned for his regiment to be armed with the new percussion rifles at a time when most infantry formations still carried smoothbore muskets. The regiment’s prominent service helped permanently associate the Model 1841 with Mississippi, even though the rifles were federal arms manufactured at Harpers Ferry and by several government contractors.

The rifle remained important into the Civil War era. Its heavy barrel provided sufficient material for enlargement to .58 caliber, allowing many examples to be modernized for use with the Minié ball. Converted Model 1841 rifles served both Union and Confederate forces, and surviving examples often display considerable variation in sights, bayonet attachments, rifling, and conversion workmanship depending upon where and when the alterations were performed.

Harpers Ferry was one of the two principal federal armories established by the United States government. The armory became an important center for arms production, mechanical innovation, and the development of military rifle technology. Model 1841 production began there in 1846, and Harpers Ferry manufactured both standard production rifles and pattern arms used to guide government contractors.

When Virginia forces approached Harpers Ferry in April 1861, federal troops set fire to portions of the armory in an attempt to prevent its machinery and weapons from falling into Confederate hands. Local residents extinguished part of the fire, allowing Confederate forces to remove valuable machinery. Equipment used in the production of federal arms was subsequently transferred to Richmond and Fayetteville, where it supported Confederate weapons manufacture.

With its matching 1852 Harpers Ferry lock and barrel tang dates, .58 caliber three groove conversion, National Armory style ladder rear sight, added bayonet lug, full brass furniture, functional lock, and exceptionally bright bore, this is a particularly desirable example of the Model 1841 Mississippi Rifle. The surviving spare nipple, both sling swivels, attractive stock color, and honest service patina further enhance its display appeal. It would make an excellent addition to a Harpers Ferry, Mexican American War, Civil War, U.S. martial arms, or early percussion rifle collection.

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: 1852
Maker: Harpers Ferry Armory and Arsenal
Caliber: .58 inches
Ammunition Type: Minié Ball & Powder with Percussion Cap
Barrel Length: 33 inches
Overall Length: 48 5/8 inches
Action: Percussion 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.