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 lovely example however was not converted, and is still in the original percussion configuration. It looks to have seen a good amount of service during the war, which has given it a peppery patina in some places, especially around the breech area, which is subject to the corrosive powder and primer. It was then carefully cleaned for years, which has given it a great look overall, with a very nice polished stock. It also some with an original socket bayonet, which is actually a British P-1853 Enfield Bayonet, marked F. PRESTON / MANCHESTER on the ricasso. This is a known supplier of P-1853 bayonets used in the U.S. Civil War, and it has been adjusted to fit.

The rifle itself is dated 1862 on the lock plate tail, with a crisp Federal Eagle stamped into the lock to the left of U.S. / SPRINGFIELD, indicating production at the United States Armory and Arsenal at Springfield, in Springfield, Massachusetts. The markings are mostly clear, though the "2" in the date looks to have been mis-struck, definitely an interesting variation. The barrel nocks form still has faint V / P / Eagle's Head proof marks, however the date on the tang is gone due to cleaning and powder burn.

The one piece walnut stock has a beautiful red brown color that only old and aged oiled walnut achieves. It does show wear from cleaning over the years, which has removed the inspection cartouches on the left side of the stock. There is some whitish material in the grain pores, probably old wax from polishing. The metalwork overall shows a lovely lightly oxidized steel patina, lightly cleaned to put it in its best light.

The bore still shows the original three groove rifling, with some overall fouling and strong lands visible. There is powder burn around the cap nipple, which looks to be original. The cap bolster cleanout screw is a period replacement, and is still able to be removed from the bolster. The lock functions, holding correctly at half cock and firing at full. The rear sight is present, with all three leaves intact and functional, though the sight base is a bit loose on the barrel. 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 there are no threads on the end, so it looks to be a well-aged replica. Both sling swivels are still present, with the rear swivel moving freely, and the front one seized.

This is a great chance to pick up a great honestly used example of a Civil War Rifled Musket with a lovely patina, made at Springfield Arsenal itself and period fitted with a British Bayonet. Ready to display!

Specifications (Rifle):-
Year of Manufacture: 1862
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

Specifications (Bayonet):-
Blade Length: 17"
Blade Style: Triangular
Overall length: 20 3/4“

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