Hall Rifle Dated 1832 Converted to Percussion

American Civil War

.52 caliber. 32.625" round barrel secured by three pin-retained flat bands. NSN. Browned and color casehardened finish (none remaining), iron furniture, smooth walnut stock. Single-shot, breechloading percussion altered rifle with Hall's patent tilting breech block. Top of breech block marked in four lines: J.H. HALL/H. FERRY/US/1832. Interestingly the "US" is struck upside down, a strange and uncommon workman's mistake. Action altered to percussion by an unknown Federal contractor circa 1861. This is clearly the standard Northern alteration to percussion and not one of the more exotic Confederate alterations. Retains original offset notch rear sight, front sight/bayonet lug with offset blade, sling swivels and button head steel ramrod (cleaning rod). A nice example of the first US military arm to be produced at a national armory on the principle of interchangeable parts, altered to percussion from flint to extend the service life of the rifle and likely held in reserve for issue at the outbreak of the Civil War.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.