Original item: Only One Available. A great Civil War Long Gun, the U.S. .54 Caliber "Mississippi" Percussion Rifle was in 1841 way ahead of its time and showed stout service in the American/Mexican War. They were well-regarded, and still in arsenal as the tensions rose, culminating in the U.S. Civil War of 1861-1865. They were in a smaller caliber than desired, but with the thick barrel walls used in construction, this proved to not be an issue, as they could be re-bored to accept the now standard .58 Minié ball used by the Springfield model 1855 and 1861 muskets. However, not all examples were converted, and this rifle is still in the original .54" caliber with 7 groove rifling, confirmed by a micrometer to measure .54 to .55, with the rifling relatively worn. There is no way that this could have ever been converted to .58.

This example was originally made by under contract by George W. Tryon of Philadelphia, who was the FIRST of several government contractors to win an order for the M1841 rifle. The company had actually started working on a contract in November 1841, and signed one for 5,000 rifles 6 October 1842, beating Eli Whitney in signing by about two weeks. Deliveries of the Tryon rifles began in 1844, roughly two years before Harpers Ferry started full production, and the contract was completed in 1849. The company was actually run by George W. Tryon’s son, Edward K. Tryon, who was given an order in April 1848 for an additional 5,000, but transferred it to Whitney in October.

This example is very nice service used condition, a real nice example of this type, and retains all of the features of a rifle that was not converted, including the rear fixed sight. The lock plate is marked TRYON / US under the hammer, with PHILADA / PA / 1848 on the lock plate tail. There is no Federal Eagle marking, as is correct, and the font is correct for Tryon produced examples. The US stamping on the butt plate tang is the same small stamp as on the lock plate, and is correct for Tryon. Above the tang screw is rack number 18.

These were often dated on the barrel, however there is no date we can see currently, and the other proof marks are missing as well, so they must have been worn away during service. The left side of the stock still bears the original inspection cartouches, though they are a faint. However, we can make out one, which is definitely W.A.T., indicating inspection by Captain William Anderson Thornton, who worked from 1841 to 1861, inspecting various small arms, and seen on other Tryon made examples of the M1841.

The weapon is fully brass mounted including a brass patch box to the Butt, which was used for storage of patches and sometimes bullets, as well as spare cap nipples. This way if the nipple broke or was clogged, it could easily be replaced. It was also used to store tools such as the clearing worm and Springfield multi-tool, however the box compartment is empty on this example unfortunately.

The stock on this rifle has a lovely red brown color, and has a very nice finish, with the expected wear from age. There are no cracks or other major damage that we can see. Both sling swivels are still present and movable. The cleaning rod on this example has been replaced, and it is rather crude, and typical of those used by Confederate forces during the U.S. Civil war. It has a properly threaded end, and fits the gun well. The lock functions correctly, holding at half cock and firing at full. We checked the bore, and the rifling is still clear, showing moderate wear from service, with dirt and fouling in the grooves. Previous examples we have had were so used that they were almost smoothbore, so this is definitely a very good example!

An early U.S. issue rifle, made by a somewhat rare maker and never converted to .58 Minié by Union forces for use in the Civil War. With the Confederate style cleaning rod one can make a compelling case that this may have been in use by the south during the war. In really nice Collector's Condition and ready to research and display!

Specifications:-

Year of Manufacture: 1848
Caliber: .54 inches - 7 groove rifling
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder with Percussion Cap
Barrel Length: 33 inches
Overall Length: 48 1/2 inches
Action: Percussion Lock
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

History of the M1841 "Mississippi Rifle"

The M1841 Mississippi rifle is a muzzle-loading percussion rifle used in the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War.  When Eli Whitney Blake took over management of the Harpers Ferry Armory in 1842, he set about tooling up under his new contract from the U.S. government for making the model 1841 percussion rifle. Machinery and fixtures for making the 1822 contract flintlock musket had to be retooled or replaced in order to produce the lock and barrel of the new model. Whitney, Jr. had the good sense to hire Thomas Warner as foreman, who, as master armorer at Springfield Armory, had just been making the same kind of major changes there. Thomas Warner had spearheaded the drive to equip the Springfield Armory with a set of new, more precise machines and a system of gauging that made it possible for the first time to achieve, in the late 1840s, the long-desired goal of interchangeability of parts in military small arms. Under his tutelage, Eli Whitney, Jr. equipped the Whitney Armory to do likewise.

The nickname "Mississippi" originated in the Mexican–American War when future Confederate president Jefferson Davis was appointed Colonel of the Mississippi Rifles, a volunteer regiment from the state of Mississippi. Colonel Davis sought to arm his regiment with the Model 1841 rifles. At this time, smoothbore muskets were still the primary infantry weapon and any unit with rifles was considered special and designated as such. Davis clashed with his commanding officer, General Winfield Scott, who said that the weapons were insufficiently tested and refused the request. Davis took his case to the President James Knox Polk who agreed with Davis that his men be armed with them. The incident was the start of a lifelong feud between Davis and Scott.

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