1849 Remington-Herkimer U.S. Model 1841 “Mississippi” Rifle-Musket

1849 Remington-Herkimer U.S. Model 1841 “Mississippi” Rifle-Musket - Inventory Number: RIF 259

.54 Caliber, 33" barrel with a fine, bright bore with strong the grooves. This is a Remington-made, 1849 dated rifle (on both barrel and lock) with the barrel having a mostly gray with light plum-brown patina along its length.  The muzzle was rebated for 2 5/8" in order to accept a socket bayonet. The lock has a mostly pewter gray patina with clear "REMINGTON’S / HERKIMER / N.Y." marking ahead of the hammer. The light walnut stock has wear and small handling marks and blemishes scattered about the original oil finish, with a dull boarder of an inspector cartouche on the left side, and a small chip from alongside the barrel tang lacking.  The brass bands, trigger guard, and patchbox are in very good shape with a mellow ochre tarnish throughout.  The brass buttplate bears a company letter “K” and issuane number. The correct brass-tipped ramrod is present. The rifle was given a variant of the 1859 bayonet alteration (with rebated barrel and bayonet stud added to the underside of the barrel near the muzzle). This is a great looking "Mississippi Rifle” and is a very presentable example. 

The Model 1841, popularly known as the “Mississippi Rifle” for its famed use by Jefferson Davis’s regiment during the Mexican War, was the first U.S. military percussion rifle produced in large numbers. Initially made in .54 caliber such as this example, many were later altered to .58 caliber and adapted for long-range fire with bayonet fittings, aligning with evolving mid-19th century ordnance requirements. By the mid-1850s, large numbers of these rifles were arsenal-modified into rifle-musket form, such as the present example, extending their service life into the early years of the Civil War. These Remington-produced “Mississippi” rifle-muskets represent a significant transitional arm between the Mexican and Civil Wars—bridging the gap between early percussion rifles and the standardized .58 caliber rifle-muskets that would dominate Union and Confederate ranks.

Inventory Number: RIF 259