{"product_id":"original-u-s-civil-war-springfield-model-1861-colt-hartford-special-rifled-musket-with-inspector-cartouches-dated-1862","title":"Original U.S. Civil War Springfield Model 1861 Colt Hartford \"Special\" Rifled Musket with Inspector Cartouches - dated 1862","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.\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 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 Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company\u003c\/strong\u003e of Hartford, Connecticut, who produced approximately 100,000 under contract during the civil war.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eColt became the most notable producer of contract Model 1861 Springfield, as they had made several minor design changes in their version, the \"Colt Special\" rifled musket. Samuel Colt had acquired machinery that had been used to build Pattern 1853 Enfield rifles from the defunct Robbins \u0026amp; Lawrence Machine Shop \u0026amp; Armory, and as a result was able to make a rifled musket that had the \"best\" of the British and American designs. These changes included redesigned barrel bands, a new hammer, and a redesigned bolster, all derived from the Enfield tooling he had purchased. Several of these changes were eventually adopted by the Ordnance Department and incorporated into the Model 1863 rifled musket.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn addition to Colt, the \"Special Model 1861\" was also produced by contractors \u003cem\u003eAmoskeag Manufacturing Company\u003c\/em\u003e of Manchester, New Hampshire, and \u003cem\u003eLamson, Goodnow, and Yale\u003c\/em\u003e of Windsor, Vermont. These companies also had access to the improved British Designs.\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 United States Muskets, Rifles and Carbines by Arcadi Gluckman Colonel Infantry, United States Army, published 1949.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter the war ended, many model 1861 and 1863 rifled muskets were modified to a breech loading actions with new metallic cartridges. With these modifications, the basic 1861 evolved into the Springfield Model 1873 which served the US until being replaced in the 1890s by modern breech loading rifles chambered for new smokeless powder rounds that were far superior to the Model 1873.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis example however was not converted, and is still in the original percussion format and correct full length, though the barrel is about 3\/8 short, so the muzzle was probably dented at some point, and the damaged portion cut off. It looks to have seen long service during the Civil War, and possibly afterwards, now displaying an oxidized patina overall on the metalwork. It does not however display any major pit rust or serious oxidation, and looks to have seen years of cleaning. It is dated \u003cstrong\u003e1862\u003c\/strong\u003e on the lock plate tail, and is marked under the bolster with:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eU.S.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOLT'S PT. F. A. MFG Co.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHARTFORD CT.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe markings on the lock are relatively clear and overall the lock plate is in very good condition, especially considering the age, though it definitely shows mottled oxidation staining and wear from past service. There is definitely powder burn on the cap bolster, which has worn away the original eagle marking, and the original cap nipple cone looks to have been replaced at some point, as it shows little to no use. The date on the breech end of the barrel has worn away, however the left facet still bears mostly clear\u003cstrong\u003e V \/ P \/ Eagle's Head\u003c\/strong\u003e proofs, with a faint \u003cstrong\u003eSTEEL\u003c\/strong\u003e on the left side, the correct markings for a Colt \"Special Model\" rifled musket.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe checked the left side of the stock, and we can still make out TWO faint boxed cartouches! The first looks to read\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e PB\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, for Peter Barrett Gunner, who also inspected USN Colt M1860 and M1861 Revolvers during the period 1861-1868. The lower cartouche is \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJT\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, for John Taylor, known for inspecting Colt M1860 ,44 Revolvers, Starr and Savage .36 Revolvers, and Sharps New Model 1859 Military Rifles during the1861-1862 period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lock functions well, with a strong action, and it holds correctly at half cock. The Colt special rear sight is complete, with all three leaves moving easily. The bore shows the original three groove rifling, though it is worn from use, and now has a mostly dark oxidized patina on the interior. The barrel band \u003cstrong\u003eU\u003c\/strong\u003e markings are all still present, as is the \u003cstrong\u003eU.S.\u003c\/strong\u003e on the butt plate. The one piece walnut stock has a great service used look, with numerous dents, dings, small stains, and so forth, as expected for a gun that went through a war. We do not see any repairs or structural damage, just the expected wear from service. Both sling swivels are present and move relatively easily, and the original tulip head ramrod is present as well, with intact threads on the end.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a great chance to pick up a lovely honest used Civil War Colt produced \"Special Model 1861\" Contract Rifled musket. Definitely a rifled musket that looks like it went through a war!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1862\u003cbr\u003eCaliber: .58\"\u003cbr\u003eCartridge Type: Minié Ball and Powder\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 39 5\/8 Inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 55 3\/4 Inches\u003cbr\u003eAction type: Side Action Lock\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: Muzzle Loaded\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":43770238238789,"sku":"ONSV25TGA199","price":2195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV25TGA199MAIN.jpg?v=1759957591","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-civil-war-springfield-model-1861-colt-hartford-special-rifled-musket-with-inspector-cartouches-dated-1862","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}