This 1862 dated Springfield is both in very good condition and bears a “Q” stamping on the underside of the stock just forward of the triggerguard tang that is now recognized as the final inspection stamp of a Confederate ordnance inspector in the Confederate Cleaning and Recovery (“C&R”) service reissuing arms that had been, “captured and collected.” The particular inspector has not been identified, but Steven Knott, who first identified and cataloged these markings in his 2019 “’Captured and Collected’ Confederate Reissued Firearms,” associates the mark with the Richmond Arsenal/ Artillery Workshop based on the proportion of these stamps to others and the number of guns passing through that facility. He estimated totals passing through the system as whole at perhaps 200,000 from battlefields, mostly in the eastern theatre, where Lee’s victories left Confederates in possession of the field, and another 50,000 or so turned in by CS units. These went largely to CS facilities at Danville, Staunton, Lynchburg, and Richmond. Knott’s initial catalog of markings included the letters A, F, Q, T, and Z. This has been expanded slightly and includes an ampersand (&) stamp indicating the letters need not correspond to an inspector’s initials.

This rifle remains in very good condition and evidently saw little hard use before falling into Confederate hands and was equally well cared for after, indicating it might be a late capture even though an early production. (For another Q-marked Model 1861 in equally good condition see the 1864 dated Parker and Snow illustrate by Knott on pages 60-61.)  With production starting at Springfield in July 1861, the Model 1861 streamlined the .58 caliber muzzle-loading Model 1855 rifle musket, eliminating the Maynard tape priming system, and the buttstock patch box (or “catch box.”) With the pressing need for arms, Springfield increased its work force, machinery, and started night shifts, managing to turn out some 33,000 of these new rifle-muskets by the end of 1861 and more than 173,000 in 1862.

This one has matching 1862 lock plate and barrel dates, just slightly rubbed from cleaning on the barrel, and was likely produced early in the year. The lock shows some color, indicating it was made after they stopped polishing the plates to bright in 1862, but the barrel mounts the older 1858 pattern rear sight, which shows some blue. The rest of the metal correctly is bright, with generally smooth surface, though the butt plate shows shallow fine pitting, pretty natural from resting on the ground. The lock plate markings are sharp: 1862 in a horizontal line to the rear of the hammer and the Springfield American eagle forward of the hammer, with U.S. / SPRINGFIELD in two horizontal lines below the bolster. The V/P/[eaglehead] barrel proofs are visible and legible, but just a little soft from cleaning, like the barrel date, and the holds true for the U.S. stamp on the buttplate tang.

The wood has good color and surface. The buttstock has a few shallow pressure dents or divots, mostly near the belly, a couple on the left and four or five on the right. The edges to the lock apron and counterpane are good. The counterpane has a number of scratches and pressure dents, but also shows two partially visible U.S. inspection cartouches. The forward stock shows light handling marks. All the metal and wood fits tightly. Bands, springs, swivels, rod and sights are in place. The rear sight has both its leaves. The bands show typical US directional “U” stamps adjacent to the springs. The bore is bright, with good rifling and the mechanism is crisp and strong.

Confederate-used arms of any sort are tough to come by. Previously unrecognized, arms that went through the C&R process are now taking their proper places in Civil War and Confederate collections and are good examples of how the Confederacy geared up to compensate for its lack of arms and manufacturing capacity in very systematic and thought-out ways. This would make a nice addition to a Confederate infantry display and is also a good example of an 1862 Springfield on its own. [sr] [ph:L]

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