{"product_id":"original-u-s-civil-war-springfield-model-1861-rifle-musket-by-springfield-arsenal-dated-1862","title":"Original U.S. Civil War Springfield Model 1861 Rifle Musket by Springfield Arsenal, Dated 1862","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is an original U.S. Civil War Springfield Model 1861 rifle musket manufactured at Springfield Armory and dated \u003cstrong\u003e1862.\u003c\/strong\u003e It remains in its original percussion configuration and shows the honest service wear expected of a martial arm that saw substantial use, including powder erosion around the bolster, worn and cleaned metal surfaces, a service worn walnut stock, and a very good three groove rifled bore.\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 was one of the principal infantry arms of the Union during the Civil War. Demand quickly exceeded Springfield Armory’s own production capacity, leading to large contracts with private manufacturers, but this example was produced at the federal armory in Springfield, Massachusetts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lock plate tail is clearly dated:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1862\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eand the forward portion of the lock carries a Federal eagle beside:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eU.S.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSPRINGFIELD\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eidentifying production at the \u003cem\u003eUnited States Armory and Arsenal at Springfield\u003c\/em\u003e, in Springfield, Massachusetts. Heavy powder residue corrosion and subsequent cleaning around the breech have removed the original barrel date and proof markings. A faint boxed inspection cartouche remains visible on the left side of the stock, though the interior letters are no longer legible. There is an\u003cstrong\u003e M\u003c\/strong\u003e carved into the bottom of the stock just forward of the trigger guard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe barrel retains the correct three leaf rear sight with separate leaves for approximately 100, 300, and 500 yards. The front barleycorn sight is also present.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is significant powder erosion around the percussion bolster, extending onto the hammer. Both the nipple and bolster cleanout screw show substantial corrosion and surface loss from use. The cleanout screw can presently be removed, though the nipple was not disturbed during inspection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lock functions in its present condition, holding correctly at half cock and releasing at full cock. These observations describe only the current mechanical state and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the musket is safe to load or fire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bore is in very good condition for a service used Civil War rifle musket. The original three groove rifling remains clearly visible, with areas of old fouling and oxidation that have since been cleaned. Some scattered light pitting remains, but the rifling is notably well preserved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe exterior metal shows extensive age and service wear, with evidence of old oxidation and repeated cleaning over the decades. The result is a mature gray and brown patina rather than a heavily finished appearance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe one piece walnut stock has an attractive brown color with light staining around some of the metal fittings from past rust exposure. It also shows evidence of old cleaning, which has softened some of the original beveled contours. No major cracks or previous structural repairs were observed. Expected dents, dings, and handling wear remain throughout.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll three barrel bands retain their \u003cstrong\u003eU\u003c\/strong\u003e markings. The butt plate tang no longer shows a visible U.S. marking. Both sling swivels remain present and move freely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA ramrod is present beneath the barrel, though it does not have the usual enlarged shank associated with the standard Model 1861 pattern. It may be a later or replacement rod, possibly of a related Civil War era pattern, but its exact origin cannot be confirmed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its 1862 dated Springfield Armory lock, original percussion configuration, correct three leaf rear sight, Federal eagle and U.S. \/ SPRINGFIELD markings, complete barrel bands and sling swivels, and very good three groove bore, this is a strong service used example of the U.S. Model 1861 rifle musket. The heavy bolster erosion, cleaned metal surfaces, missing barrel proofs, faint stock cartouche, softened stock contours, and nonstandard ramrod are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in a Springfield Armory, Civil War infantry arm, Model 1861 rifle musket, or advanced U.S. martial firearms collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1862\u003cbr\u003eMaker: United States Armory and Arsenal at Springfield\u003cbr\u003eModel: 1861 Rifle Musket\u003cbr\u003eCaliber: .58\"\u003cbr\u003eCartridge Type: Minié Ball and Powder\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 40 Inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 56 Inches\u003cbr\u003eAction type: Side Action Lock\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: Muzzle Loaded\u003cbr\u003eFederal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\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\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\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":45722883129413,"sku":"ONJR26MYMF027","price":1695.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/DEFCC80B-050C-4227-9217-52969831ABED.jpg?v=1790471785","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-civil-war-springfield-model-1861-rifle-musket-by-springfield-arsenal-dated-1862","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}