Item Description
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 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 Norwich Arms Co. of Norwich Conn, which manufactured around 18,000 rifle-muskets under contract from 1863-64.
After the war ended, many model 1861 and 1863 rifled muskets were modified to a breech loading actions with new metallic cartridges. Others, such as this one, went home with soldiers, and were converted into weapons more suited for hunting.
This example has had the stock cut down, and fitted with a single barrel band. The rear sight was also removed, though possibly just from use, and not as part of the conversion. It is dated 1863 on the lock plate tail, and also has U.S. / NORWICH next to an Eagle stamped into the lock. The barrel stills shows a ghost of the V/ P/ (eagle) markings, which are clear. There is no ramrod, and no pipes were installed for one on the exposed barrel.
The metalwork overall shows peppering from past pitting, with a worn and aged patina, exactly as one would expect from long use and storage. The cap lock nipple is also missing, and the cleanout for the bolster has lost the screwhead, so it cannot be opened. The lock functions, but will fire at half cock. We did check the bore, and it does still have rifling, so this was not made into a "fowling piece", but kept as a rifle.
This is a great chance to pick up a nice Civil War Contract Rifled musket, cut down for hunting after the war! Ready to restore or display as is!
Specifications-
Year of Manufacture: 1863 - sporterized later
Caliber: .58"
Cartridge Type: Minie 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.
- This product is available for international shipping.
IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.
These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers". Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.
Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services.
- Not eligible for payment with Paypal or Amazon
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