Confederate Rifled Musket / SOLD

Confederate Rifled Musket - Inventory Number: RIF 188/ SOLD

Some 200,000 firearms that were captured or collected by CS Ordnance teams and civilians, along with perhaps another 50,000 turned in by CS units, went through the cleaning and/or repair (“C&R”) system of the Confederate Ordnance Department for reissue to Confederate soldiers. The process took place mostly in the eastern theatre, where Lee’s victories left battlefields and arms in Confederate hands, and was concentrated at facilities at Danville, Staunton, Lynchburg, and Richmond. This U.S. Model 1861 musket shows a final Confederate C&R inspector’s stamp on the underside of the stock, just forward of the trigger guard, reading “Z,” which is associated with Captain Louis Zimmer, who supervised C&R operations at Richmond from late 1864 to early 1865.

The barrel is a Confederate Richmond .58 caliber rifled musket barrel with “T” mortise for the rear sight (lacking).  The barrel bands are Richmond products as well with very offset letter “U”.  The stock is a Richmond produced replacement which is mounted with an 1862 Springfield lockplate and buttplate. The “C&R” stamping “Z” is correctly placed just forward of the trigger guard tang.  The Ramrod is likely a Richmond manufactured example as well based on the threads.  The only example more Confederate than this example would be a C.S. Richmond product.  This example is accompanied by a triangular bayonet with perfectly matching patina.  Just an outstanding rebel gun!

Inventory Number: RIF 188 / SOLD