1861 Springfield Rifled Musket Captured and Re-Issued by the Confederacy

1861 Springfield Rifled Musket Captured and Re-Issued by the Confederacy - Inventory Number:  RIF 202

This 1861 dated Springfield is both in very good condition and bears a Confederate "Cleaned and Recovered" stamping on the underside of the stock just forward of the triggerguard tang that attests to the final inspection of the confederate service reissuing arms that had been, "captured and collected." This weapon is accompanied by Steven Knott's book "Captured and Collected' Confederate Reissued Firearms," In which he estimates the totals passing through the system at perhaps 200,000 from battlefields, mostly in the eastern theatre, where Lee's victories left Confederates in possession of the field, and another 50,000 or so turned in by CS units. These weapons went largely to CS facilities at Danville, Staunton, Lynchburg, and Richmond.

This rifle remains in very good condition and evidently saw little hard use before falling into Confederate hands and was equally well cared for after, indicating it might be a late capture even though an early production. With production starting at Springfield in July 1861, the Model 1861 streamlined the .58 caliber muzzle-loading Model 1855 rifle musket, eliminating the Maynard tape priming system, and the buttstock patch box (or "catch box.") With the pressing need for arms, Springfield increased its work force, machinery, and started night shifts, managing to turn out some 33,000 of these new rifle-muskets by the end of 1861.

This one has matching 1861 lock plate and barrel dates. The lock shows original bright polish as does the barrel with a light even patina throughout the metal components. The metal wears a generally smooth surface, though the butt plate shows shallow fine pitting, pretty natural from resting on the ground. The lock plate markings are sharp: 1861 in a horizontal line to the rear of the hammer and the Springfield American eagle forward of the hammer, with U.S. / SPRINGFIELD in two horizontal lines below the bolster. The V/P/eagle head barrel proofs are visible and legible, like the barrel date, and the holds true for the U.S. stamp on the buttplate tang.

The wood has good color and surface. The edges to the lock apron and counterpane are good.

The counterpane has two partially visible U.S. inspection cartouches. The forward stock shows light handling marks. All the metal and wood fits tightly. Bands, springs, swivels, rod and sights are in place. The rear sight has both its leaves. The bands show typical US directional "U" stamps adjacent to the springs. The bore is bright, with good rifling and the mechanism is crisp and strong.

Confederate-used arms of any sort are tough to come by. Previously unrecognized, arms that went through the C&R process are now taking their proper places in Civil War and Confederate collections and are good examples of how the Confederacy geared up to compensate for its lack of arms and manufacturing capacity in very systematic and thought-out ways.

This would make a nice addition to a Confederate infantry display and is also a good example of an 1861 Springfield on its own.

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Inventory Number:  RIF 202