{"product_id":"original-u-s-civil-war-springfield-model-1861-contract-rifle-musket-by-norwich-arms-co-with-1863-dated-lock","title":"Original U.S. Civil War Springfield Model 1861 Contract Rifle Musket by Norwich Arms Co. with 1863 Dated Lock","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is an original U.S. Civil War Springfield Model 1861 contract rifle musket manufactured by Norwich Arms Co. of Norwich, Connecticut. It remains in its original muzzle loading percussion configuration and features an \u003cstrong\u003e1863\u003c\/strong\u003e dated lock, clear \u003cstrong\u003eU.S. \/ NORWICH\u003c\/strong\u003e markings with Federal eagle, three U marked barrel bands, U.S. marked buttplate, three leaf rear sight, and its original three groove rifling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\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. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Model 1861 rifle musket was one of the principal infantry arms of the American Civil War. The enormous wartime demand for Model 1861 rifle muskets during the Civil War required the U.S. government to rely heavily on private contractors in addition to Springfield Armory production.\u003cstrong\u003e Norwich Arms Co.\u003c\/strong\u003e of Norwich, Connecticut was one of twenty private contractors employed. The company received two contracts for a total of 25,000 muskets, all of which were delivered. As with most contractors they did not change to the model 1863 specifications, delivering Model 1861 Muskets throughout their contracts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis example remains in its original percussion muzzle loading configuration rather than having been altered to one of the later postwar breech loading systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lock plate is dated:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1863\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eat the tail and is clearly marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eU.S.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNORWICH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ebeside a \u003cstrong\u003eFederal Eagle\u003c\/strong\u003e motif.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe barrel date is no longer legible, but the left facet of the barrel nocks form retains the expected 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\u003eAn additional \u003cstrong\u003eL\u003c\/strong\u003e stamp is present on the left side of the barrel. Two very faint inspection cartouches can also be seen on the left side of the stock near the lock screws, though they are too worn to read confidently.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll three barrel bands retain their \u003cstrong\u003eU\u003c\/strong\u003e markings, and the buttplate tang is crisply stamped:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eU.S.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe metalwork overall has a bright polished steel appearance with areas of old peppery oxidation that have subsequently been cleaned. No major areas of heavy rusting are evident from the supplied inspection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe percussion bolster remains relatively well shaped. The percussion cone, or nipple, is only partially threaded into the bolster and was not disturbed during inspection. The bolster cleanout screw can still be removed relatively easily, though there is a substantial amount of rust visible inside the cleanout area. The lock holds at half cock and releases at full cock when operated by hand. The bore retains clear three groove rifling. There is visible evidence of old oxidation and fouling throughout from use and incomplete cleaning over the rifle’s service life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe American black walnut stock is in very good overall condition and displays an attractive reddish brown color with visible grain. It shows the expected dents, dings, handling marks, and other wear from age and military use but no major structural cracks or repairs were observed. The stock geometry has softened somewhat along the bevels from long use and past cleaning. There are also marks around the barrel bands from oxidation and from the bands having some looseness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rifle retains the correct three leaf rear sight, which remains intact and functional though somewhat stiff. Both sling swivels are present and move freely. The ramrod is a fabricated period replacement rather than the original rod.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its 1863 dated Norwich lock, U.S. \/ NORWICH and Federal eagle markings, original percussion configuration, three U marked barrel bands, U.S. buttplate, three leaf rear sight, clear three groove rifling, and attractive walnut stock, this is a particularly appealing Civil War contract Model 1861 rifle musket. The worn barrel date, faint stock cartouches, cleaned oxidation, rust within the bolster cleanout area, partially threaded percussion cone, bore fouling and oxidation, loose barrel band wear, and period replacement ramrod are all fully disclosed. It would display especially well in a U.S. Civil War infantry arms, Model 1861 rifle musket, Norwich Arms contractor, or advanced Federal long arms collection.\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\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eMaker: Norwich Arms co.\u003cbr\u003eModel: 1861 Springfield Rifled Musket\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCartridge Type: Minié Ball and Powder\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 40 Inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOverall Length: 56 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 style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\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":45570080473157,"sku":"ONSV26GCS034","price":1895.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV26GCS034.jpg?v=1786999040","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-civil-war-springfield-model-1861-contract-rifle-musket-by-norwich-arms-co-with-1863-dated-lock","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}