This antique percussion infantry rifle is the U. S. Model 1863 Rifled Musket. It was one of the most common muskets of the Civil War. Manufactured by Springfield Armory with a 1864 date on the lock. This musket has been converted to a .60 caliber smoothbore, which was fairly common with surplus muskets post Civil War. The rear sight has been removed and barrel has been cut down to 24". The nipple is broken off in the breech. This musket would best be used as a wall hanger display or as donor parts for restoration to a similar model musket. This musket has a trigger reach of 13-1/4" and weighs 6.6 pounds.
The .60 caliber smoothbore barrel is 24" length, including the breech plug snail. Originally finished bright the exposed surfaces have aged to a dark gray brown patina with a textured patina around the breech and on the lock from antique percussion caps. The V over P over eagle head proof marks and date at the breech are all no longer legible. The .58 caliber bore has been reamed smooth to convert it into a shotgun for the surplus marked post Civil War. The bore is dark and rough and is packed full of crud, we were only able to insert a ramrod 6" into the bore. The rear sight has been removed and no front sight was installed after the barrel was cut back.
This original antique Civil War musket is stocked in black walnut. The stock has worn to a light brown bare wood patina. The stock has scattered handling marks, dents, and dings. There is a large piece of wood missing along the upper right forearm. There is a 1" drying crack extending from the right side of the buttplate. Small cracks can be seen extending back from both the tang and tail of the lock. The rear sling swivel is missing, and the forward swivel was originally mounted to the middle barrel band, which was removed with the barrel was cut down. All the metal parts have a dark brown textured patina. The ramrod is missing for this gun.
The lock is still faintly lettered U. S. and SPRINGFIELD and faintly bears the date 1864 at the tail. The bolster of the barrel is stamped with an eagle. The lock has a powerful mainspring and works crisply. The tumbler screw is missing. The nipple is broken off in the breech, which is heavily rusted.
This musket will make a good display piece hanging above your fireplace or on the wall of the cabin. Order it for a ten day visual inspection. You will be delighted. Else if it does not fit you, return it in unfired condition for same-day refund. Postage is your only risk, when you order any one-of-a-kind gun from Track, whether new, used, or antique.