{"product_id":"original-u-s-civil-war-model-1861-contract-rifle-musket-by-william-muir-co-1864-dated-shortened-barrel","title":"Original U.S. Civil War Model 1861 Contract Rifle Musket by William Muir \u0026 Co., 1864 Dated, Shortened Barrel","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is an original U.S. Civil War Model 1861 contract rifle musket manufactured by \u003cstrong\u003eWilliam Muir \u0026amp; Co.\u003c\/strong\u003e of Windsor Locks, Connecticut, with an \u003cstrong\u003e1864\u003c\/strong\u003e dated lock. It remains in its original muzzle-loading percussion configuration and retains clear maker markings, three U marked barrel bands, a U.S. marked buttplate, its original pattern tulip ramrod, and visible three groove rifling. The barrel has been shortened to approximately 39 3\/8\", the 500-yard rear sight leaf is broken away, and the ramrod’s threaded end is missing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis 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. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis 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. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the Civil War, demand for the Model 1861 rifle musket exceeded the production capacity of Springfield Armory. The U.S. government therefore contracted with more than twenty private manufacturers to produce arms based on the government pattern. William Muir \u0026amp; Co. of Windsor Locks, Connecticut, received a contract for 30,000 Model 1861 rifle muskets, with deliveries made during 1863 and 1864.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Model 1861 was the standard U.S. rifle musket of the Civil War period. It was a .58 caliber muzzle-loading percussion arm fitted with three groove rifling, an adjustable rear sight, three barrel bands, and a socket bayonet mounting system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eColt was among the most prominent private contractors and introduced several variations in its Special Model 1861 rifle musket, including changes to the hammer, bolster, and barrel bands. Elements of those changes influenced later U.S. rifle musket production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis William Muir example was not altered to a breech-loading system and remains in its original percussion configuration. After the Civil War, some Model 1861 rifle muskets were converted using Erskine Allin’s hinged breech system, beginning with the Model 1865. The later Model 1873 Trapdoor Springfield retained the general hinged-breech concept but was manufactured as a new .45-70 arm rather than simply being a direct conversion of the Model 1861.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lockplate tail is dated:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1864\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe center of the lock carries a \u003cstrong\u003eFederal Eagle\u003c\/strong\u003e above:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eU.S.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eForward of the percussion bolster, the lock is marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWM MUIR \u0026amp; CO.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWINDSOR LOCKS. CT.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lock markings remain relatively clear. The lockplate is in very good overall condition for its age, though scattered pits from earlier oxidation are visible across the plate and hammer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe barrel breech, or nocks form, carries the standard proof markings:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eV\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eP\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEagle Head\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original barrel date has been completely obscured by oxidation and surface loss.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe barrel measures approximately 39 3\/8\", shorter than the standard 40\" Model 1861 barrel. The muzzle appears to have been shortened at some point, possibly to remove a damaged section. The precise reason and date of this alteration are unknown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo faint boxed inspector cartouches remain on the left side of the stock opposite the lock. They are too worn to identify confidently.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe metalwork has been cleaned and restored to remove oxidation and improve its appearance. It now displays a polished steel finish with scattered staining, residual peppering, and a mottled appearance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore substantial earlier corrosion is present on the buttplate and around the barrel breech near the percussion nipple and bolster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lock holds at half cock and mechanically releases from full cock. The bolster cleanout screw turns freely, though it appears to be a replacement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rear sight retains its angled 100 and 300-yard leaf. The 500-yard leaf is broken away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll three barrel bands retain their \u003cstrong\u003eU\u003c\/strong\u003e markings. The buttplate tang is marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eU.S.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe ramrod is the correct tulip head pattern with an enlarged shank. Its threaded lower end has broken away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bore retains visible three groove rifling. It shows evidence of earlier fouling and oxidation, together with several areas of internal pitting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe one-piece walnut stock remains in very good overall condition and shows wear consistent with age and military service.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is erosion to the wood around the percussion nipple and bolster, a commonly encountered result of corrosive percussion and powder residue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA crack extends from the lower lock screw toward the barrel breech. The buttstock also shows wood erosion and staining around the buttplate, likely associated with prolonged exposure to moisture and oxidation from the steel fitting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo additional major cracks or structural repairs were observed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its clear William Muir \u0026amp; Co. lock marking, 1864 date, original percussion configuration, visible military proofs, U marked bands, surviving inspector cartouches, functional lock, and retained three groove rifling, this is an appealing example of a Civil War contract Model 1861 rifle musket. The shortened barrel, missing barrel date, cleaned metalwork, oxidation, pitting, broken 500-yard sight leaf, replacement cleanout screw, broken ramrod threads, stock crack, wood erosion, and bore wear are fully disclosed. It would display particularly well in a Civil War infantry arms, William Muir, Model 1861 rifle musket, U.S. contract firearm, or advanced American military collection.\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 1864\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eMaker: William Muir \u0026amp; Co.\u003cbr\u003eModel: Springfield Pattern 1861 Rifle Musket\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCaliber: .58\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCartridge Type: Minie Ball and Powder\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 39 3\/8 Inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOverall Length: 55 1\/4 Inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAction type: Side Action Lock\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeed System: Muzzle Loaded\u003cbr\u003eFederal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Springfield Model 1861\u003c\/strong\u003e 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 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 \u003cem\u003eUnited States Muskets, Rifles and Carbines\u003c\/em\u003e by Arcadi Gluckman Colonel Infantry, United States Army, published 1949.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\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\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45489322557509,"sku":"ONJR26APNS095","price":1595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/655CE558-66C0-4B64-9883-2FF83A7579B7.jpg?v=1785963990","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-civil-war-model-1861-contract-rifle-musket-by-william-muir-co-1864-dated-shortened-barrel","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}