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Item No.:	10733	Price :	$2,595.00
Item :	SPRINGFIELD U.S. MODEL 1855 RIFLE MUSKET, .58 CALIBER

Description :

This is an original, Civil War, U.S. Model 1855 Type II Rifle-Musket manufactured at Springfield Armory in 1859. The Model 1855 was the first U.S. Musket specifically designed to fire the new "Minie" ball ammunition. It was .58 caliber and fitted with the Maynard Tape Primer Device. This allowed, in theory, a new cap to be advanced to the percussion cone each time the musket was cocked, eliminating the need to manually cap the weapon for each shot. In practice it did not work well, and was eliminated on the later Model 1861 Rifle-Musket. This was the primary musket in the hands of the troops at the beginning of the Civil War. The Model 1855 soldiered on throughout the conflict, side by side with the later types. Springfield Armory made 47,115 of this type. This musket is in very good to fine condition. It has been cleaned to return it to armory bright. It now has a steel patina with a scattering of very fine brown speckles where there were some small pits. The mechanics are excellent with a working Maynard Tape Primer Device and lock. The bore is in good condition. There was some rusting that has been polished out, leaving a few pits. The rifling remains strongly visible along the bore's length. The stock is very good with a few old dings and small gouges from use. There is a short hairline crack, about 3/4" long, running back from the rear of the lock. There is a rack number, "C36" stamped on the right side of the butt. The number "33" is stamped on the barrel tang. There is no visible inspector's cartouche. If I could own just one Civil War Musket, it would be a Model 1855. This one, made in 1859, could have served from the opening shots of the war to the surrender at Appomattox. Stock no. 32438

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