This Civil War era single-shot muzzleloader is a .58 caliber Springfield Model 1855 percussion rifle-musket in very nice overall condition. Longarm has a 40” round barrel with broad three-groove rifling. Stock is secured to the stock with three-barrel bands and three 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 is clean with a light gray patina. Exhibits a few areas of darker spotting.

All lockplate stampings sharp and clear and show the large spreadwinged eagle on the kidney-shaped, hinged primer door, along with the date “1857” deeply stamped behind the large, high spur hammer. Large eagle motif on door is still high in detail, including stripes on shield and feathers. Lockplate marked with the “U.S. / SPRINGFIELD” forward of the hammer. Barrel breech area has some pitting with a faint date “1857” still visible. The eagle head and proof marks are visible on the barrel left facet.

Beveled lockplate is fitted with a C-shaped hammer and with the Maynard tape priming system. This system employed a waterproof roll of paper percussion caps.  Inserted into the primer magazine, a cap was fed onto the nipple when the hammer was pulled back. Tape priming system mechanics 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 (stamped “US”) graduated to 800 yards and an iron blade front sight. Mechanics crisp and tight. Bore is clear with spots of oxidation and with strong rifling. The original, steel, swelled-shank, tulip-head ramrod is frozen in ramrod channel. All barrel bands are original and secured to the stock via flat iron springs. Buttplate is stamped “US”. Handsome black walnut stock is solid with no cracks or splits. Wood surface is very good, smooth. Weak oval government cartouche on the left flat as well as a name, “A. LAWSON”. Screw heads remain in good condition and both swivels remain.

A very fine, Springfield Model 1855 rifle-musket dated 1857. [jet]

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