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Rare Confederate Richmond Armory Rifle-Musket

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:3,250.00 USD Estimated At:6,500.00 - 9,500.00 USD
Rare Confederate Richmond Armory Rifle-Musket
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Rare Confederate Richmond Armory Rifle-Musket

Type III Rifle-Musket manufactured by the Richmond Armory in Richmond, Virginia, c. 1862-63. The Richmond Armory was established on the site of the former Virginia Armory in 1861 to utilize the gun making machinery and materials captured at the U.S. Arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia in April 1861. Utilizing the machinery from Harpers Ferry, the Richmond Armory manufactured a simplified version of the U.S. Model 1855 Rifle-Musket. The Richmond Armory Rifle-Muskets are quickly identified by the hump back lock plate made from forgings and dies for the U.S. Model 1855 Maynard tape primer lock plate that were captured at Harpers Ferry. This rifle-musket has the Type II lock plate with a less pronounced hump than earlier production Richmond Armory Rifle-Muskets. The rifle-musket has a iron front sight/bayonet lug, folding two leaf rear sight, distinctive U.S. Model 1855 style hammer, bolster with cleanout screw, flat barrel bands marked "U" on the right side and black walnut stock with brass buttplate and brass screw fastened forearm cap. The musket is complete with the correct late pattern straight shank tulip head ramrod. The lock plate is dated "1862" vertically behind the hammer and roll stamped "C.S./RICHMOND, VA." in two lines ahead of the bolster. "V/P/EAGLE HEAD" proof and inspection marks are stamped on the left barrel flat. Manufactured between 1861 and 1865 in larger quantities than any other Confederate made weapon; the Richmond Armory Rifle-Musket was a high quality weapon that is perhaps the best representative small arm of the Confederate infantryman.

Manufucture: Richmond Armory
Model: 1862
BBL: 40 Inch
Stock: walnut
Guage: 58 percussion
Finish: bright
Grips:
Serial Number: NSN

Good. The rifle-musket is all original and has not been "touched". The barrel, lock plate, trigger guard and other components that were originally finished National Armory Bright have an even deep brown patina with light surface texture. The bolster, percussion nipple, adjacent portions of the barrel and the left side of the hammer all have the heavy flash pitting typical of combat used percussion firearms. The brass forearm cap and buttplate have an attractive untouched patina. The stock is good overall with moderate-heavy handling wear that matches the condition of the musket. The markings on the lock plate and barrel are clear. This is a good original untouched example of a Richmond Armory Type III Rifle-Musket that clearly was used by a Confederate infantryman in combat during the Civil War.