Original Item: Only One Available. This is an especially interesting and scarce U.S. Civil War Model 1861 Rifle Musket manufactured by William Mason of Taunton, Massachusetts in 1863 and subsequently converted to the Miller Patent breechloading system. The rifle began life as a standard .58 caliber percussion muzzleloader of the type carried extensively by Union troops during the Civil War, then became part of the postwar search for an economical way to transform thousands of suddenly obsolete muzzleloaders into metallic cartridge breechloaders. Only about 2,000 Model 1861 rifle muskets were converted to the Miller system by Meriden Manufacturing Company between 1865 and 1867, making surviving examples considerably scarcer than the better known Allin “Trapdoor” conversions. This example is especially appealing because it retains its faint but legible U.S. / W'M. MASON. / TAUNTON. lock marking, 1863 date, Miller patent marked breechblock, matching conversion serial 1105 on the latch and underside of the block, bright .58 caliber rifled bore, functional extractor, and the original Civil War era architecture of the Mason rifle musket from which it was converted.

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.

The rifle began as a Federal contract Model 1861 Rifle Musket manufactured by William Mason at Taunton, Massachusetts.

The lockplate is faintly marked:

U.S.
W'M. MASON.
TAUNTON.

A very faint Federal eagle is also visible forward of the hammer.

The lock is dated:

1863

William Mason was a major Massachusetts machinery manufacturer who received a Federal contract in January 1862 to produce Springfield pattern Model 1861 rifle muskets. Although the original proposed quantity was considerably larger, Mason ultimately delivered approximately 30,000 rifles to the U.S. government during the Civil War.

These were not products of Springfield Armory itself. Like many “Springfield” rifle muskets encountered today, they were contractor manufactured weapons made to the Federal Model 1861 pattern and intended to interchange with government produced arms.

The Model 1861 became the quintessential Union rifle musket of the Civil War. Its .58 caliber rifled barrel, percussion ignition, Minié type ammunition, and effective battlefield range represented an enormous improvement over the smoothbore muskets that had dominated American military service only a generation earlier.

This example retains important original Model 1861 features, including its solid spring retained barrel bands and three leaf rear sight.

After the Civil War, however, even a successful rifle musket such as the Model 1861 was rapidly becoming technologically outdated.

The war had demonstrated the enormous advantages of breechloading firearms. A soldier using a muzzleloader normally had to stand or kneel to load, measure the charge through the muzzle, ram the projectile down the full length of the barrel, cap the nipple, and then fire. A breechloader dramatically simplified this process and allowed a soldier to reload without exposing himself to the same degree.

The problem facing the U.S. government was cost.

Hundreds of thousands of serviceable rifle muskets remained in government inventories. Completely replacing all of them with newly manufactured cartridge rifles would have been enormously expensive, so inventors and manufacturers proposed numerous systems for converting existing muzzleloaders into breechloaders.

The best known result of this experimentation was Erskine S. Allin’s system at Springfield Armory, which ultimately evolved into the famous Trapdoor Springfield family.

The Miller conversion was one of the competing systems.

William H. Miller and George W. Miller developed a hinged breech mechanism that could be fitted to existing Model 1861 rifle muskets. Meriden Manufacturing Company of Connecticut performed approximately 2,000 conversions between 1865 and 1867, a very small production run compared with the tens of thousands of later Springfield conversions.

The top of the breechblock on this rifle retains its patent and manufacturer markings, although they are somewhat faded from wear and oxidation:

W.H & G.W.MILLER
PATENT MAY 23.1865

MERIDEN MANFG. CO.
MERIDEN, CONN.

The Miller conversion required alteration of the rear portion of the original barrel and installation of a hinged breechblock assembly.

When opened, the breechblock exposes the chamber for loading a self contained:

.58 Rimfire Cartridge

This allowed the rifle to retain essentially the same bore diameter as the original percussion musket while taking advantage of metallic cartridge technology.

The rifle retains its original 39" barrel and now measures approximately:

56" overall

The Miller system also incorporates a mechanical extractor. On this example, the breech mechanism operates properly and the extractor remains functional.

The firing pin is still present and moves, although it is somewhat stiff.

The lock itself operates without noted mechanical issues.

The three leaf rear sight remains fully intact and moves easily.

The conversion serial number:

1105

is stamped on the breech latch.

The same number:

1105

is also present on the underside of the breechblock.

The matching conversion numbers are a particularly desirable feature and indicate that these fitted Miller components have remained together.

The U.S. Army tested the Miller system during the immediate postwar period, when numerous inventors were competing for government attention and contracts.

The system did not ultimately win adoption.

Period trials revealed reliability concerns, including misfires and gas leakage, and the government instead proceeded with the Allin system developed at Springfield Armory.

That rejection is one of the principal reasons Miller rifles are so scarce today. With only around 2,000 conversions undertaken, the design never entered large scale Federal service.

There is evidence that at least small numbers later saw militia use, including with state forces in New York and Maryland, although no provenance accompanies this rifle to establish any specific postwar unit history.

The rifle itself is in very good service used condition.

Most of the metal surfaces have developed a pleasing aged gray patina.

There is scattered fine oxidation and light peppering in several areas. We have left these surfaces largely intact rather than aggressively cleaning them, preserving the rifle’s historic appearance.

The lockplate and Miller breech markings remain visible, although both are faint from age and wear.

The buttplate is stamped:

U.S.

Both barrel bands are marked:

U

The walnut stock remains in very good overall condition.

We did not observe any major structural cracks or extensive repairs.

There is, however, a small chunk of wood missing on the left side immediately adjacent to the breech. This appears to have broken away from the particularly narrow section of wood in that area, possibly after catching on another object.

The remainder of the stock shows the expected dents, handling marks, and service wear of a Civil War era military rifle.

The bore is particularly attractive.

It remains bright through much of its length and retains crisp lands and grooves.

The final approximately:

6 inches near the muzzle

show evidence of older fouling and oxidation, most likely resulting from exposure and accumulated residue.

The installed ramrod appears closer in form to an Enfield pattern rod and is therefore regarded as a:

period replacement

rather than the rifle’s original Model 1861 ramrod.

The Miller is one of the more fascinating dead ends in the rapid evolution of the American military rifle.

This firearm began its life during the Civil War as a conventional William Mason Model 1861 muzzleloading rifle musket and then, within only a few years, was rebuilt to fire a self contained metallic cartridge. In a single surviving rifle, it is possible to see the transition from the classic percussion infantry weapon of 1861 to the breechloading military rifle that would dominate the remainder of the 19th century.

That transitional history, combined with the extremely limited number of Miller conversions, is what gives this example such strong collector appeal. Its 1863 dated William Mason lock, Federal markings, matching Miller conversion serial 1105, patent marked Meriden breechblock, functional extractor, bright .58 caliber rifled bore, original three leaf sight, and strong overall stock condition make it a particularly satisfying example. The faint markings, scattered oxidation, small stock loss beside the breech, stiff firing pin, muzzle end fouling, and period replacement ramrod are fully disclosed. It would make an outstanding addition to an advanced Civil War arms, U.S. breechloading conversion, Model 1861 Springfield, William Mason, Miller Patent, or postwar military firearms development collection.

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: 1863, converted circa 1865-1867
Caliber: .58"
Cartridge Type: Rimfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 39 Inches
Overall Length: 56 Inches
Action Type: Side Action Lock with Hinged Breechloading Conversion
Feed System: Single Shot Breechloader

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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.

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.