{"product_id":"original-u-s-civil-war-springfield-model-1861-by-norwich-converted-to-personalized-revenge-rifle","title":"Original U.S. Civil War Springfield Model 1861 by Norwich Converted to Personalized \"Revenge\" Rifle","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. The Springfield Model 1861 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Springfield Rifle cost $20 each at the Springfield Armory, where they were officially made. Overwhelmed by the demand, the armory opened its weapons patterns up to twenty private contractors, including\u003cstrong\u003e Norwich Arms Co.\u003c\/strong\u003e of Norwich Conn, which manufactured around 18,000 rifle-muskets under contract from 1863-64. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis particular example has been personalized a lot, and was clearly owned by a guy who truly hated his enemy. It started life as a regular Springfield percussion rifle made in Norwich but has been personalized by someone with the initials \u003cstrong\u003eG.W.\u003c\/strong\u003e. It also has had the barrel either altered or replaced, so it is now only about .48\" in diameter, with a fairly rusty bore. There are two, what appear to silver plaques each engraved, one inlaid into the right side of the butt and the second in the right side of the fore stock. The butt plaque has a very decorative scrolled border surrounding the word \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"Avenger\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e. The Fore Stock plaque, also decorated says:-\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHe Who Shoots First\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLives To Shoot Again\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRevenge. G.W.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost probably a son or Brother of a previous Civil War casualty. The Rifle has been in storage for a great period and appears varnished long ago which has somewhat protected the surface. The back sight is absent, the barrel is 34\" and there is no front nose cap. The rear of the barrel has a somewhat exotic inlay of a Crown over entwined letters in reverse that looks like it is made from GOLD however will probably turn out to be brass.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe would love to know the back story on this particular Rifle. Ready to display!\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 circa 1863-4\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCaliber: Approx 12mm \/ .48\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCartridge Type: Ball and Powder\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 34 Inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOverall Length: 50 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\u003eNOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31111954825285,"sku":"ONSV4161","price":495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ONSV4161__01.jpg?v=1595717916","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-civil-war-springfield-model-1861-by-norwich-converted-to-personalized-revenge-rifle","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}