Guns International #: 102810687
Seller's Inventory #: 244326

Category - Civil War Rifles - Antique Rifles - Percussion

Category
Civil War Rifles
Antique Rifles - Percussion

Scarce EAGLE ARMS CO. Antique CIVIL WAR U.S. M1861 .58 Rifle-Musket UNION “EVERYMAN’S RIFLE” Primary Infantry Weapon

Description:
Scarce EAGLE ARMS CO. Antique CIVIL WAR U.S. M1861 .58 Rifle-Musket   

UNION “EVERYMAN’S RIFLE” Primary Infantry Weapon

Here we present a very scarce antique Eagle Arms Company U.S. Model 1861 Civil War Rifle-Musket, made circa 1863 in Mansfield, Connecticut. While the original contract with Eagle Manufacturing Co in Mansfield called for 20,000 guns, it has been recorded that only 5,500 were actually delivered.

The Model 1861 was the primary musket at the start of the American Civil War. The musket was designed to fire the .58 caliber Minié ball. The M1861 is representative of the “everyman’s” rifle during the war. About 1.5 million rifle-muskets were made in the U.S., over 800,000 of which were made by the Springfield Armory. This was the last hurrah of the rifle-musket as arms development and tactics rapidly advanced during the short period of the American Civil War. Nevertheless, the 1861 represented new technology as it was made for use with the Minié ball, a hollow based, conical projectile that was small enough to quickly push down the muzzle of a rifled barrel and expanded to create a good gas seal unlike a solid, round ball. Almost immediately after the war, the U.S. military switched from the old muzzle loading type weapons to the newer breech loading rifles, bringing an end to the musket as a standard frontline firearm in American history.

The emergency that confronted the nation with the onset of civil war overwhelmed the productive capability of Springfield Armory. The federal armories simply could not manufacture enough weapons to outfit the thousands of soldiers quickly filling the ranks of Union armies. This situation was worsened with the loss of the armory at Harpers Ferry. Outside help was needed, and the government procured the assistance of over 20 private manufacturers producing over 643,000 muskets. Springfield Armory provided technical assistance and supervised the manufacturing and distribution of the Model 1861 muskets so that these contract weapons essentially conformed to the “government model” of the .58 caliber rifle musket. These weapons, as opposed to the numerous pistols and carbines that were purchased on contract, differ basically only in the markings on their lockplates.

The overall condition is good. Dark weathered patina throughout. The action is strong. The bore is dark with worn rifling and pitting throughout. The walnut stock shows use and remains solid. The initials “LP” have been stamped at the toe of the stock.

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 40 inches.

Caliber: .58 Percussion

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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ancestryguns

$2400

#244326
 

Price: $2,400.00                     Buy Now

Antique: Yes