Guns International #: 101341393

Category - Civil War Rifles - Remington Rifles - Antique

Category
Civil War Rifles
Remington Rifles - Antique

NICE Remington Model 1863 Zouave Rifle with Bayonet and Scabbard

Description:
This is well-preserved example of a Remington 1863 Percussion Contract Rifle aka the "Zouave Rifle". .58 Caliber, 33" round "STEEL" barrel, with brass furniture and patchox.  Comes with original saber bayonet and leather scabbard.  The Zouave is considered by some collectors to be one of the finest percussion rifles built during the Civil War and some of its components are the same as the Model 1841 Mississippi Rifle which Remington also manufactured for the US Government in the 1840's and 1850's.  These came with either 3 or 7 groove rifling; this particular gun has the 7 groove style. 100% complete and original including sling swivels, rear sight, front sight, ramrod, and bayonet lug. Of the 12,000+ guns produced by Remington Arms from 1862-65, it remains a mystery why so few appear to have been issued.  Most were sold off as surplus decades after the American Civil War ended.  Today, having seen such limited use, these Zouaves are like little  time capsules as they tend to have fair amounts of original finish remaining.  They give a little glimpse of what rifles and muskets actually looked like when issued before they hit the battlefield and spent years out in the elements. 

Overall condition is NRA Antique Fine Plus.  The barrel has 85% original blue and the bolster area around the nipple looks perfect indicating it has only been fired only a few times.    Barrel is marked "STEEL" with a V/P beside an Eagle Head.  The case colored lockplate and hammer have silvered with patina beginning to speckle across the surface.  You can still make out some of the faded original colors if you use your imagination or look in the protected areas. Lock plate is marked "REMINGTON'S "ILION  N.Y."  To the left is an eagle symbol "U.S." The rear portion of the lock is dated "1863". The lockplate screws on the left side of the stock show remnants of original fire blue and there is even original blue still on the trigger.  Action is perfect.  The bore is mint with its 7 groove rifling that's still mirror bright. You can still see the tiny lines when the grooves were being cut by the rifling button at Remington in 1863. The stock is in Fine Plus Condition with some light handling marks.  It still has nearly all of its original oil finish intact and two nice inspector cartouches. No cracks or repairs.   The brass furniture is excellent with inspector initials still sharp and visible and a nice "US" stamped on top of the buttplate.  Inside the brass patchbox is the original spare nipple. Overall, a nice example of a Zouave that appears to have seen Civil War use.  Original front and rear sight however, the top leaf of the rear sight is chipped with only the upper portion remaining.  I will do my best to get this remedied soon....either with a well-done repair to the original or a new leaf plus the original leaf which you can store in the patchbox for originality.  The bayonet is in really nice shape with great untouched brass, a fine original leather scabbard and a blade that is still mostly bright with a few light spots of oxidation.  It fits the barrel and lug perfectly. 
 

SOLD

Antique: Yes
Manufacturer: Remington Arms
Model: US Model 1863 Rifle
Caliber Info: .58
Stock: Oil Finished American Walnut
Finish: Blued/Case Colored
Manufacture Date: 1863