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M1855 HARPERS FERRY RIFLE DATED 1860

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It is estimated that the Harpers Ferry arsenal manufactured 5,151 Type II M1855 rifles in the years preceding the Civil War.  The 3-banded version of the M55 was considered the rifle-musket, while this shorter 2-band version was called a “rifle”. Type II models differed from the Type I in several ways, most notably by replacing brass furniture with iron furniture from the forend cap to the butt plate. The US M-1855 Rifle is one of the scarcer primary issue US military long arms that was produced during the last few years leading up the outbreak of the American Civil War. During its limited production from 1857 until early 1861 it was produced in two primary variations (Type I and Type II), with only 7,317 of the rifles being produced at the rifle works at Harpers Ferry. The gun came quite close to not being manufactured at all, as it was generally considered that since all troops were to be armed with the new US M1855 Rifle Musket, there was no need for an additional “rifle” model. Prior to the adoption of the M-1855 series of arms, the standard US infantry long arm had been the .69 caliber smoothbore musket, Model of 1842. Rifles were produced and issued to specialty troops, and to the various states under the Militia Act of 1808, but the typical infantryman carried a smoothbore musket. With the adoption of the .58 caliber M1855 pattern Rifle Musket, all troops would in fact be carrying a “rifle” and the issue of an additional “rifle” model seemed superfluous to the Ordnance Department. However, Secretary of War Jefferson Davis felt that a shorter, “rifle length” arm was desirable to have in production and justified it by ordering that the M1855 Rifle was to be issued to the Sappers & Miners (Engineers) in place of the old, smoothbore M1847 Sappers & Miners carbine that was in use.

This Civil War era single-shot muzzleloader is a .58 caliber Harpers Ferry Model 1855 percussion rifle in well-used overall condition. This longarm has a 33” round barrel, which is secured to the stock with two barrel bands and springs. All furniture is iron including the lockplate, hammer, nose cap, butt plate, trigger guard, swivels, and ramrod. All gun metal has dark plum to gray color with localized pitting across the barrel, bands, and ramrod.

The beveled lockplate holds a large spur hammer and houses the Maynard tape priming system. This system employed a waterproof paper tape of percussion caps inserted into the primer magazine held behind a hinged door. This system set a cap onto the nipple when the hammer was cocked and the trigger pulled. The tape priming system mechanics are still strong and smooth, but feature a slight bend in the mechanics of the feeding arm obscured by the lockplate - when cocked, the feeding arm pushes against the door that covers the Maynard system. On the face of the Maynard primer “door” the large spread-winged eagle motif is visible and strongly stamped. Hammer has a once knife-edged lip that severed the expended portion of the primer tape, but is worn from use and age. Lockplate is in nice condition with a light patina and is marked “U.S. / HARPERS FERRY” forward of the primer door while the date “1860” is behind the hammer.  The lockup of the hammer in both positions is somewhat weak. The rifle has a rear short leaf-sight with both elevated flip-up portions missing, and an iron bladed front sight. The ramrod is missing any threaded portion and is consequently short of the muzzle and may be a replacement piece. Barrel breech area is pitted on and around the nipple. No date visible on the tang. No proof marks visible on the barrel and no inspector cartouches can be seen on the stock, which shows various wear and some wood loss near the lock. Both bands retain their “U” stamps and the butt of the stock on the left side is adorned with the deeply carved initials “A.T.E” and the numeral “II”.  A small dent on the left side of the butt near the “US” marked buttplate is evident but was nicely repaired using the original wood. Saber-bayonet lug is present on the right side of the barrel at the muzzle.  The barrel itself features a dull bore with worn rifling – representative of a long and storied service life.

These late period antebellum Harpers Ferry Type II Rifles are very scarce and prized among collectors of Civil War and Harpers Ferry-specific weaponry.  These were among the very last arms to be manufactured at Arsenal and Armory Number 2 before its destruction and dismantling in 1861.  [cm][ph:L]

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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