The classic rifle-musket of the Civil War is the Model 1861, and this is an untouched example with bayonet. If you wanted only one longarm for your collection, this would be a wonderful example.

At the start of the War, the Springfield Armory could not make a fraction of the required Model 1861 rifle-muskets, and so the US Army contracted with many companies to make more. But this one is an authentic Springfield Armory manufacture, and made in 1861 as shown on the lockplate. These were hard used, and rare. These 1861 dated guns are worth 30% more than the ones produced after 1861.

The barrel proofs are still visible under the brown, but the barrel date is not. The lockplate date of 1861 and the eagle are present.

The mechanics are fine, and there is still rifling visible in the barrel. This is not a shooter, but we all want our collector’s arms to function. The original swelled ramrod is still full length with the threading at the bottom end. The rear sight has the low sight only, as the medium and long distance leaves are long gone. This is all original, and uncleaned. This is what collectors call “attic brown,” meaning this has rested undisturbed over the years, and has turned a nice even brown color of honest and unrestored age.

When I added this to my collection, it came with this matching brown bayonet marked US which matches this for condition perfectly. There is a letter or two scratched in the wood opposite the lock, a method of marking one’s own weapon forbidden to Union troops, but common amount southern soldiers.

I am now ready to pass it along to a collector who will appreciate this as I have appreciated it. As collectors have come to appreciate and value untouched muskets, it is harder to find one like this and especially hard to find one dated 1861. This looks like it served the entire War and was stored away, just as it is.

I may offer this locally, so consider using the Buy it now Feature.

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