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, however this example was produced at Springfield Arsenal itself.

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 very nice example however was not converted, and is still in the original percussion configuration, though it definitely looks to have seen long service, which probably extended long into the post Civil War period. The metalwork shows past peppering and oxidation overall, later cleaned away, leaving a gray matte patina. The stock also suffered damage in multiple places, and was repaired with either just glue, or wood graft repairs, some of which are quite large. Definitely a rifled musket with a long and interesting history.

It is dated 1861 on the lock plate tail, with a faint U.S. / SPRINGFIELD under the cap bolster, indicating production at the United States Armory and Arsenal at Springfield, in Springfield, Massachusetts. There is definitely past oxidation on the lock plate, which has mostly obliterated the "Federal Eagle" stamping usually under the hammer. There is also a lot of powder burn and cleaning around the breech area, which has completely removed any markings. The rear sight is completely missing as well, and a small notch was ground into the top of the lower barrel band to serve as a sight.

The stock definitely has led a rough life, showing cracks running up from the front of the trigger guard to the wood line by the lower barrel band, which were later glued. The butt stock has had a large piece of wood grafted on from another musket, which replaced the entire end of the stock, as shown in the pictures. The stock was also cut under the upper barrel band, probably to replace the entire nose piece, however the glue joint failed, so it is now only held in place by the cleaning rod and band. There is also a wood graft repair under the hammer, a common place for powder related erosion.

The bore still shows the original three groove rifling, however it is now faint, and the interior shows fouling and oxidation from long use. There is substantial powder burn around the cap bolster, and the cap nipple cone looks to have been replaced at some point, as it shows much less wear. The cleanout screw is present, but the head is definitely marred, and it cannot be removed. The lock functions, holding correctly at half cock and firing at full, though there is definitely slop in the mechanics. The three barrel bands still have their U markings, with a U.S. on the butt plate tang. The ramrod is the correct and original tulip type with an enlarged shank, however the threaded end is missing, and the upper sling swivel is missing as well.

A very interesting example of a Civil War issued Springfield Model 1861 Rifled musket, which has definitely seen some things over its long service life. Ready to further repair, or display as is!

Specifications:-

Year of Manufacture: 1861
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

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