Product Description
CIVIL WAR Antique WILLIAM MUIR & CO. U.S. M1861 “EVERYMAN’S” Rifle-MUSKET
Musket with “1864” Dated Lock
Here we present an antique Civil War Dated William Muir & Co. U.S. Contract Model 1861 Percussion Rifle-Musket, produced in 1864 in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. Production began in September of 1861 when the war was getting started. The Union was still trying to make up for arms shortages and the destruction of Harpers Ferry Armory with production at Springfield, supplementing this with contracts with over 20 other contractors, like Muir, for rifle-muskets.
The M1861 is representative of the “everyman’s” rifle during the war. About 1.5 million rifle-muskets were made in the U.S., over 800,000 of which were made by the Springfield Armory. This was the last hurrah of the rifle-musket as arms development and tactics rapidly advanced during the short period of the American Civil War. Nevertheless, the 1861 represented new technology as it was made for use with the Minié ball, a hollow based, conical projectile that was small enough to quickly push down the muzzle of a rifled barrel and expanded to create a good gas seal unlike a solid, round ball. Almost immediately after the war, the US military switched from the old muzzle loading type weapons to the newer breech loading rifles, bringing an end to the musket as a standard frontline firearm in American history.
The American Civil War raged from April 12, 1861 to May 9, 1865 in which roughly 30,000 Model 1861 muskets were produced by Muir for the U.S. government. Like the Springfield production of the Model 1861, the Muir Contract model could be considered the “everyman’s” infantry weapon.
The overall condition is good. Brown patina throughout. The action is excellent. The barrel has been smoothbored and is smooth and bright. The walnut stock is solid, showing use. The barrel bands slide a bit. The butt plate and the surrounding wood is much more weathered than the rest indicating it was exposed to moisture.
Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.
Barrel is 40 inches.
Caliber: .60 Percussion
Overall condition as seen in photos.
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$1800
#233970