US Model 1863 Rifle Musket by Springfield Arsenal with Whitney Marked Stock

American Civil War

.58 caliber. 40" round barrel secured by three rounded screw-clamping barrel bands. NSN. Bright finish, color casehardened lock and hammer, blued bands, iron furniture, walnut stock. Single shot percussion muzzleloading rifle musket. Lock marked with a {Spread-Winged Eagle}/U.S. forward of the hammer and in two horizontal lines U.S./SPRINGFIELD and dated 1863 at the tail. Breech of barrel dated 1863 as well. Upper left breech with typical V/ P/{Eagle Head} inspection marks. Counterpane of stock with two inspection cartouches, the first the script MTH of an unknown Springfield inspector and the second a clear script ESA of Springfield's Master Armorer Erskine S Allin. Obverse stock with {Spread-Winged Eagle} over Whitney Arms Co. Barrel with correct 1861 pattern 3-leaf rear sight as the two-leaf 1864 pattern sight had not yet been adopted. Retains the musket style front sight and bayonet lug, both slings swivels and an original straigth-shank, tulip head ramrod that is full-length with good threads. In 1867 Whitney sold 6,943 US Springfield Model 1863 Rifle Muskets that he had acquired as surplus after the war. These guns were stamped with the Whitney Arms Co logo on the stock and typically had their barrels and furniture blued. Likely many of these guns ended up seeing service during the Franco-Prussian War. A very nice example of a completely correct US Model 1863 Rifle Musket that was then resold after the war by Eli Whitney Jr.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.