Original 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.

The 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.

The 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.

The 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 the William Mason Company of Taunton, Massachusetts. The firm produced some 30,000 weapons for the army during the Civil War.

The 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.

After 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.

This example however was not converted, and is still in the original configuration. It is dated 1863 on the lock plate tail, and also has a faint Eagle stamped into the lock under the hammer, and to the right of that U.S. / Wm. MASON. / TAUNTON.. The markings on the lock are mostly clear, and overall the lock plate is in very good condition, especially considering the age. The left side of the barrel nocks form shows the correct V over P over Eagle's Head proofs, with another 1863 date on the top. These markings are often worn away by powder burn, but this example still has the markings clearly shown.

The one piece walnut stock is in very good service worn condition, showing long service during the Civil War, and possibly afterwards. There are a lot of scrapes and scratches on the bottom of the fore stock from the trigger guard forward, looking like it was rested on something while being fired. These marks end abruptly at the trigger guard. It has a fantastic deep red brown oiled walnut color, and really looks like it has "been there". There are no major structural issues or repairs, just a bit of erosion near the hammer due to powder burn.

The metalwork overall overall still has much of the original bright steel finish, with some areas of light oxidation peppering, especially on the barrel and on the hammer. The bore is clear, and the original three groove rifling still present and strong. There are some areas of past pitting on the interior, so this is a rifled musket that did see use during the war. The cleanout on the cap bolster still unscrews correctly, and the nipple and channel are both clear, something we rarely see.

The lock functions correctly holding at half cock and firing at full. The three leaf rear sight is still fully intact and functional. All three barrel bands still have their U markings, with a U.S. on the butt plate tang. The ramrod is the correct tulip type, with intact end threads. Both sling swivels are still present and move back and forth correctly.

This is a great chance to pick up a very nice Civil War Contract Rifled musket by a rare maker that saw some real use during the war. Fully cleaned and ready to display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1863
Caliber: .58"
Cartridge Type: Minié Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 40 Inches
Overall Length: 56 Inches
Action type: Side Action Lock
Feed System: Muzzle Loaded

NOTE: 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.