This Civil War single-shot muzzleloader is a .58 caliber early Springfield Model 1855 percussion rifle-musket in very good overall condition.  Longarm has a 40” round barrel with broad three-groove rifling. Stock is secured to the stock with three barrel bands and band springs.  All furniture is iron including the lockplate, hammer, bolster, buttplate, triggerguard, swivels and ramrod.   Nose cap is brass which was changed to iron in 1859.   All gunmetal has been cleaned and has areas of fine rust pitting overall.   All metal wears a dull gray coloring.  

Lockplate stampings clear and show the large spreadwinged eagle on the front-hinged primer door and the date “1859” stamped behind the large spur hammer.  Beveled lockplate is fitted with a C-shaped hammer and the Maynard tape priming system.  System employed a waterproof paper tape of percussion caps inserted into the primer magazine that set a cap unto the nipple when the hammer was pulled back and trigger pulled. The hammer has a knife-edge lip that severed the expended portion of the tape. Musket has a two-leaf rear sight and a brass front sight.    

The musket was a government arsenal product from Springfield, Massachusetts. Over two hundred and fifty thousand such longarm weapons were produced for the US Ordnance Dept during the war years.  All gunmetal cleaned and exhibits a bright finish.  Lockplate surface wears a dark plum patina with a smooth finish.  “1864” stamped behind the hammer. Lock markings with the “Eagle / US” / SPRINGFIELD” are sharp and clear.  The distinctive “S” shaped hammer with its chamfered, beveled edges has the same smooth patina as the rest of the lockplate components. Barrel breech area bright and exhibits a strong, sharp date “1864” on the flat.  Also, Sharp proof marks visible on the barrel facet. Original nipple and rear sight. Mechanics crisp and tight. Bore is dusty but should clean to bright.  Rifling strong. Steel tulip-shaped ramrod is original and wears the same semi-bright finish. All barrel bands are original and secured to the stock via flat iron springs.   Black walnut stock surface looks to never been cleaned. Stock is solid with no cracks, splits. Two very good government cartouches visible. Still exhibits a number of light scratches and scuff marks overall along with minor dings and nicks. A fine representative 1863 Springfield longarm of the Civil War.

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