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Item No.:	8466	Price :	SOLD
Item :	RELIC, TYPE II SPRINGFIELD M1863 RIFLE-MUSKET FROM PETERSBURG, VA. "BATTLE OF THE CRATER"

Description :

Here is an original, Type II, U.S. Springfield M1863 Rifle-Musket purportedly found in 1885 at Petersburg, Virginia in the mine tunnel leading to the Crater, 21 years after the battle. The musket came from an old museum in Arkansas and has markings identical to those found on a shotgun recovered from the Shiloh Battlefield. This shotgun appears in the book "Confederate and Southern Agent Shotguns" by Russ Pritchard and John Ashworth, Jr. It has the same type label, written in the same hand as the label on this musket. "Hornet's Nest" is painted above the label of the shotgun in the same size and red and gold paint as the "Petersburg 1864" that is painted on this musket. Both guns must have come from the same collection. The musket is in relic condition, as one would expect of a musket recovered 21 years after a battle. The metal has a very rough, pitted, dark brown patina. The lock is frozen, rusted in place. The bore is dark, dirty, and heavily rusted. The upper sling swivel is missing. The rear sight is missing the longer sight leaf. The stock has fared a little better, being complete and in good condition. There is a visible inspector's cartouche on the left flat of the stock. On the right side of the stock, just forward of the lock Is "Petersburg 1864" hand painted in large, red shaded, gold letters. On the butt is a paper label that says "This Springfield Rifle was found in the mine tunnel leading to the Crater, in 1885. Twenty One years after The Battle of the Crater during the Siege of Petersburg". On first glance, the label appears to be printed, but is, in fact, hand lettered by someone who obviously got an "A" in penmanship! There are two stars carved in the wood on either side of the label, with traces of what looks like sealing wax in the corners of one star. This is an interesting relic of the Civil War. Stock no. 22295

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