This Civil War era single-shot muzzleloader is a .58 caliber Springfield Model 1855 percussion rifle-musket in very good overall condition. Longarm has a 40” round barrel with broad three-groove rifling. Barrel is secured to the stock with three bands and band springs. All furniture is iron including the lockplate, hammer, bolster, buttplate, triggerguard, swivels and ramrod save the brass nose cap which changed to iron in 1859. All gunmetal appears untouched and exhibits no pitting but moderate to heavy mottling. The metal surfaces also have a dull tea-brown coloring caused by oil residue.

All lockplate stampings sharp and clear and show the large spreadwinged eagle on the kidney-shaped, hinged primer door, along with the date “1858” deeply stamped behind the large, high spur hammer. Large eagle motif on door is still high in detail. Lockplate marked with the “U.S.” / SPRINGFIELD” forward of the hammer. Barrel breech area is clean with minor oxidation and exhibits a strong date of “1858” on the flat. Barrel markings on left facet have a weak “VP” but a strong eaglehead. Original nipple and bolster.

Beveled lockplate is fitted with a C-shaped hammer and with the Maynard tape priming system. Tape priming system mechanics are very strong and smooth. Hammer has a knife-edged, bottom lip that severed the expended portion of the tape. Musket has a large long range rear sight graduated to 800 yards and an iron blade front sight.

Over two hundred and fifty thousand such longarm weapons were produced for the US Ordnance Dept during the war years. Mechanics crisp and tight. Bore is very clean and rifling is good. The original, steel, swelled-shank, tulip-head ramrod retains its threaded tip. Handsome black walnut stock is solid with no cracks or splits. Wood surface is good, smooth and never cleaned. Does show some dings and small gouges overall. Two thin government cartouches are visible on the flat. Screws not buggered up. Longarm retains both swivels.

DISCLAIMER: All firearms are sold as collector's items only - we do not accept responsibility as to the shooting safety or reliability of any antique firearm. All firearms are described as accurately as possible, given the restraints of a catalog listing length. We want satisfied customers & often "under" describe the weapons. Any city or state regulations regarding owning antique firearms are the responsibility of the purchaser. All firearms are "mechanically perfect" unless noted, but again, are NOT warranted as safe to fire!

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