{"product_id":"original-u-s-civil-war-rare-remington-contract-model-1863-zouave-percussion-rifle-with-inspection-cartouches-and-clearing-tools-dated-1863","title":"Original U.S. Civil War Rare Remington Contract Model 1863 “Zouave” Percussion Rifle with Inspection Cartouches and Clearing Tools - Dated 1863","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. Arguably one of the finest made, and most attractive firearms to have emerged from the American Civil War was the Remington Model 1863 Rifle, Also known as the \"Zouave Rifle”. The .58-caliber muzzle loading 1863 Remington was referred to as \"Harpers Ferry Pattern\" in official Army documents from the period. Although over 12,000 were manufactured, it is unknown what regiments were issued the arms, most likely due to the innocuous nomenclature often used with the arms, and being classed similar to the Model 1841 “Mississippi” Rifle. The Remington is profusely marked, and most of the markings on the metalwork are still crisp. The lock plate shows some past removed oxidation, and features a somewhat faint \u003cstrong\u003eFederal eagle\u003c\/strong\u003e with a \u003cstrong\u003eU.S.\u003c\/strong\u003e surcharge underneath. To the right of the the eagle is stamped the maker, which is also a bit faint:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eREMINGTON’S \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eILION, N.Y.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the tang of the lock plate is stamped the date \u003cstrong\u003e1863\u003c\/strong\u003e, which matches the date clearly stamped on the top of the barrel. The top of barrel breech is also marked with \u003cstrong\u003eV\u003c\/strong\u003e over \u003cstrong\u003eP\u003c\/strong\u003e over an \u003cstrong\u003eEagle's Head\u003c\/strong\u003e, the standard barrel proofs of the time. The left side of the breech of the barrel is marked with \u003cstrong\u003eSTEEL\u003c\/strong\u003e and initials \u003cstrong\u003eR.K.A.\u003c\/strong\u003e, for \u003cem\u003eRemick K. Arnold\u003c\/em\u003e, who worked as an armory sub-inspector 1862-1877. On the left side of stock opposite the lock are two cartouches stamped into the wood, with the upper being a faint \"boxed\" script \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHDJ\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, for \u003cem\u003eHenry D. Jennings\u003c\/em\u003e, who worked 1862-1863. Below this is a clear boxed \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, for \u003cem\u003eBenjamin Hannis\u003c\/em\u003e, noted for inspecting a variety of contract revolvers from Allen \u0026amp; Wheelock, Savage and Colt, from 1861-1863, as well as Remington rifles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Rifle is in its original .58 caliber, and the bore is in very good condition, showing a partly bright finish with clear lands and grooves. There is some overall past peppering inside from oxidation and fouling, so it did see a good amount of use, but was relatively well maintained. The lock is fully functional, holding in half cock and firing only at full. The cap nipple cone is in very good shape, showing only light use and past oxidation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis particular specimen is in very good condition for its age, showing signs of moderate wear and use while in service, followed by many years of careful maintenance. The barrel still retains the original blued finish very well, with some wear and past peppering closer to the cap nipple cone bolster and barrel tang. We do not see any signs of refinishing, and we can see that the bluing is fading to plum in areas. The cap bolster is also in great shape, though as mentioned earlier the lock plate suffered from oxidation in the past. Originally these were made with blued barrels and case colored lock plates, the latter of which is much less resistant to oxidation. The brass hardware has a lovely golden color, looking to have been polished up in the past.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stock is in great shape, with the lovely red-brown color of aged and oiled American black walnut. The geometry is still sharp, and it does not show any signs of major cleaning or restoration. It has some minor dings, dents, and scrapes, as expected, but we did not see any cracks or major repairs. The rear sight is complete with all three leaves, which still move as they should. Both sling swivels are present and move easily, and the original ramrod is still in great shape, with intact threads on the end. The patchbox door opens and closes, as it should, and in this case actually still contains some fabric, as well as a spare cap nipple cone, a ball puller, and a clearing worm! We also checked and the clearing attachments both thread on correctly to the end of the rod! We almost never see these!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis really is a great example of this rare and desirable Civil War percussion rifle with some great cleaning attachments and a lovely look. Ready to display and cherish!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1863\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCaliber: .58\" - Seven Groove Rifling\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCartridge Type: Minié Ball and Powder\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 33 Inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOverall Length: 49 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\u003eEliphalet Remington II was born in Suffield, Connecticut on October 28, 1793. His father, Eliphalet Remington, moved his family from Connecticut to the Mohawk River Valley in 1800, where he cleared enough land for a small farm, built a two-room cabin that was later replaced by a larger home, and, along with others who had also moved to the region from Connecticut, established the town of Litchfield. Eliphalet Remington Sr. also owned an iron forge. Here he both fabricated and repaired tools, equipment, and hardware, and Lite, as Eliphalet II was nicknamed, worked alongside him and learned the trade as well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe younger Remington had the opportunity to examine various long arms that were owned by local residents, and in 1816, he decided that he was capable of manufacturing a good rifle barrel. This he proceeded to do, and he took the finished product to a local gunsmith for boring and rifling. Lite then fitted a lock, stock, and furniture, and upon completion, he found that it shot well. After showing his new gun to area residents, he soon had a large number of orders for gun barrels. These were octagonal in shape, and as with his initial effort, boring and rifling was done by a gunsmith in nearby Utica.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe completion of the Erie Canal in 1825 and the establishment of railroads soon thereafter provided an economic boost to the region. Remington's rifle barrel works expanded as well. By 1828, he had established his own forge in Ilion, and he soon came to dominate the local trade, producing over 8,000 barrels per year for gunsmiths who would do final rifling and fitting. In 1844, Remington's oldest son, Philo, joined him in his business. This was reflected in the firm's name, which became E. Remington and Son.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBy the mid-1850s, his two other sons, Samuel and Eliphalet III, had also joined the company, and the name changed yet again. In addition to gun barrels, E. Remington and Sons also manufactured plows, mowing machines, cotton gins, and firefighting equipment. In later years, their product line expanded to include bicycles, sewing machines, and typewriters. Remington's involvement in the manufacture of completed firearms came in 1848, when the company received a contract for the completion of 1,000 Jenks breechloading carbines for the U.S. Navy. In addition, Remington took over a defaulted contract from another manufacturer for the production of 5,000 U.S. Model 1841 \"Mississippi\" rifles.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe business expanded through the 1850s, and handgun production began in 1857 with the introduction of the Remington-Beals pocket revolver. The coming of the Civil War naturally brought about a dramatic increase in the demand for firearms, and Remington's production also increased to keep pace. During this period, the company manufactured both .36 and .44 caliber revolvers, as well as Model 1863 Percussion Contract Rifle, popularly known as the \"Zouave\" rifle.\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":45248915767365,"sku":"ONSV26GTGS083","price":2795.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/C535AD28-2E34-4D8B-8FD2-FDB073FB9020.jpg?v=1783026348","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-civil-war-rare-remington-contract-model-1863-zouave-percussion-rifle-with-inspection-cartouches-and-clearing-tools-dated-1863","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}