This musket has been identified as one having been purchased by the Confederacy due to chronic arms shortages throughout the conflict. Military leaders therefore preferred the faster loading smooth bore weapons over the more accurate rifles. That is definitely at the high end of the pricing spectrum. [16], When the American Civil War broke out in April 1861, neither the North (about 360,000 small arms) nor the South (about 240,000) had enough weapons to fight a major war. Where a domestically produced rifle would cost around $25, a cased Whitworth with 1,000 rounds of ammunition would cost a stunning $1,000. Though the muzzleloader percussion cap rifle was the most numerous weapon, being standard issue for the Union and Confederate armies, many other firearms, ranging from the single-shot breech-loading Sharps and Burnside rifles to the Spencer and the Henry rifles - two of the world's first repeating rifles - were issued by the hundreds of thousands, mostly by the Union. It appears be a percussion muzzle loading shotgun, not a rifle. The Springfield may not have been the top of the line or most advanced gun available on the market, but it was definitely the most widely available to Northern troops and got the job done in battle. [18][20], Some soldiers considered the Enfield to be superior to the Springfield in terms of quality and accuracy. We did not manufacture guns of this nature in the US. Despite these improvements, the Springfields rate of fire was similar to a muskets, around three aimed shots per minute. USA.gov, The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration As the war escalated those arms stockpiles were quickly diminished. Trying to remove nipples and they would not budge. April 28, 2023 at 6:36 a.m. EDT. Most suggestions that I have received is the Whitney/Plymouth Naval rifle. Box 160 Llano, Texas 78643 If you have a specific identification question, please see our Identification Request Page. Barn find. But there were plenty of examples of poorly crafted Lorenzs, as historian Joseph Bilby has noted: The 125th Illinois was issued Austrian rifle-muskets in .58 caliber of which not over one-half were perfectmany will not explode a cap. The 125ths regimental historian complained that some of the Austrian guns nipples were not entirely drilled out, and some could not mount a bayonet without hammering it on. Spencer rifles were the first successful repeater used in the United States. The British-made arm, the primary long gun of the Empire at the time, proved effective out to 900 yards, 400 yards farther than almost any other rifled musket in the Civil War. Heralded by military historians, American history aficionados, and gun enthusiasts alike, these iconic firearms have transcended their place in history (thanks to the myth making machine of Hollywood cinema) and have become a beloved family heirloom and collection centerpiece today. Perhaps the most intriguing feature of the Civil War gun is its .60 caliber, 18 gauge under shotgun barrel located right underneath its .42 barrel giving the user an addition shot. p. 109-110, Historical Dictionary of the U.S. Army. Table of Contents. That is, if you consider a gun designed to fire hexagonal bullets a bit odd. The Spencer carbine and rifle were first presented to the government in 1860, but were rejected by the United States because they were 7 shooters and fired too fast for accuracy. The American Civil War still remains the deadliest conflict in our nations history. Nonetheless, Henry and Spencer rifles were used at the December 1864 Battle of Nashville to quite devastating effect. Bridesburg Model 1861. The quality of Lorenz rifles during the Civil War was not consistent. The gun is 50" long and 36" from the . Some shotguns were used in the very beginning, mostly by southern troops but were discarded after the first battle or two when better weapons were acquired from the dead. Check to see if it is still loaded. And it can still be found harvesting game today. It had design similarities to the Colt revolver, with a rotating cylinder that held several rounds of ammunition (a unique feature on a rifle). Both sides accused the other of using poisoned bullets, and while neither government authorized their use and manufacture, it is possible that individuals modified their bullets in this way. The rifling also improved precision over traditional musket. To others, they were next to trash. The hammers look homemade and while it's probably old enough to have been used in the war it is very highly unlikely. Confederate General Braxton Braggs LeMat revolver realized an incredible $103,500 during Rock Island Auction Company's December 2021 Premier Firearms Auction. Army smoothbore infantry musket. In April of 2018, a desirable Sharps Model 1853 slant breech percussion carbine sold for $12,650 at auction. Conically-shaped with a hollow base, the Mini ball could be easily loaded but expanded upon firing to fit the rifling grooves. A rugged design that was simple to construct, the Model 1861 and its derivatives (including the Springfield Model 1863) were the most common rifles in the war, with Northern arsenals producing over a million examples. Some good pictures to go along with the article. Granville Stuart's Sharps Model 1874 Creedmoor No. JavaScript is disabled. Besides being known for his poor generalship, stylish facial hair and being the first president of the NRA, Ambrose Burnside was also a firearms innovator. The Springfield was such a widely used rifle that most Civil War re-enactors own one for use in their battles. A few fell into Confederate hands, but proved largely unusable due to a lack of ammunition (the Confederacy had insufficient supplies of copper to manufacture the Spencer's rimfire cartridges). William Brooke Johns, Hidden in Plain Sight: Compiled Service Records as Sources for Confederate Arms and Equipment, Firearms Genealogy: The Impossible Takes Longer. The conical projectile, developed by French Army officer Claude-Etienne Mini in 1849, delivered before then unheard-of accuracy to military long guns. Similar in design to the Enfield rifle, early Lorenz rifles were considered superb weapons right out of the factory, but they had a .54 caliber bore which could not accept the same bullets as the Springfield and Enfield. Another new characteristic of this war, for all the enduring need for artillery, is the primacy of precision weapons over the major military platforms that have dominated the battlefield for more . [7][22] Depending on the location where they were manufactured, these were known as Richmond or Fayetteville rifles. Advances in firearms technology were quickly progressing in the mid-1800s making for some seriously well designed and powerful arms development during the Civil War. Rifled muskets quickly became the standard weapon of modern armies of the period, including the United States, while some smoothbore muskets were converted into rifles. The first Model 1861 Springfields were delivered late in that year and during 1862 gradually became the most common weapon carried by Union infantry in the eastern theater. 4 | "War in an Age of Wonders" By Michael P. Musick The information most sought after in ordnance records is data on the issuance of arms by serial number. 2.6K views, 382 likes, 124 loves, 77 comments, 48 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from NET25: Mata ng Agila International | April 20, 2023 Polly Pocket toys may be small in size, but they're big on value. The Le Mat saw wear-and-tear but still showed good plum and brown patina. However, new research pegs it higher at 750,000, even 850,000. In Civil War battles, infantry typically fought in a widely-spread out line, with the men using trees, rocks, buildings, etc. [18], The third-most widely used rifle of the Civil War, and the most prolific of "second-class" weapons, was the Lorenz Rifle. [17] Stockpiles of rifles and handguns carried by individual soldiers were limited. By the end of the war, approximately 1.5 million Springfield rifle muskets had been produced by the Springfield Armory and 20 subcontractors. The military tried to work around this in various ways, but the Colt Revolving rifle was discontinued. Near the breech on the octagonal barrel is 78192, Length of the barrel please and I should be able to give you an answer. Nonetheless, Hardee's book was produced in a huge variety of editions during the war, often for different types of infantry. In fact, this rifle was the first breechloader ever made in any national armory that fired a primed metallic cartridge. John Russell is a Civil War Historian and Collector who brought a historic Enfield rifle to show off at a Texas Independence Day Party in late February. Yet, Colt collectors are willing to pay even for these less functional firearms, with one recently selling at auction for $2,550. Observe the Rifle's Silhouette. The Lorenz was a bit like playing craps, if craps entailed being killed if the dice were faulty. Like with all historical firearms, the prices can vary throughout the years on certain models and type of arms with condition and provenance playing a role on cost. Items connected to a man of Lincolns historic stature are largely kept in museums, while his autographs, letters, and other historic documents are among the most collected in the world. There are no markings on the shotgun whatsoever aside from some very faint decorative etchings and a couple of tally marks carved into the side of the wood. Their primary use was anti-materiel such as setting fire to vehicles and ammunition, since their fragmentary properties were deemed at best to cause unnecessarily cruel wounds. Jason, welcome to The Firearms Forum. The relatively poor South only bought 50,000 by August 1862, while the North bought 726,000. Flag images indicative of country of origin and not necessarily primary operator. Due to this, it's statistically more likely for a family with a Union ancestor to have an Enfield in their collection than a Confederate family is to. Those familiar with twentieth-century records often assume that official records of some kind will enable the possessor of a particular Colt percussion Army Model 1860 revolver (for . Cal. It was the standard weapon for the British Army between 18531867. Other then The French Lefaucheux pin-fire handgun, I have no knowledge of any other French weapons imported by either side. In the decades leading up to the Civil War, several advances helped make the rifle a more practical weapon for the average soldier. The American Civil War of 1861-1865 relied on many different kinds of firearms during the years-long progression of the conflict. The Brunswick rifle was a high tech rifle during the 1830s when it was originally manufactured, but by the 1860s, it was an obsolete firearm. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Forum, DDC42030-F585-4F92-B823-49A679E01E19.jpeg, 3ABEA3B2-F434-4B20-8432-553099FB0982.jpeg, 3A863C0B-4D25-41C2-BE49-FD017E05A9F8.jpeg, 376D9B33-1DE3-4CE3-AC10-E032DD55FB5D.jpeg, 61689209-F215-4F7E-896C-D39323C89621.jpeg. It is close, but not quite right. In comparison to the Springfield's three rounds per minute, the Henry rifle could fire 28 rounds per minute. Most of these new rifle-muskets still had to be loaded between . The first rifled muskets had used a larger .69 caliber Mini ball, since they had simply taken .69 caliber smooth bore muskets and rifled their barrels. One of the most popular items to collect from the annals of American history is Civil War rifles. p. 73-74, Coggins,J. Many of these poorer quality weapons were swapped out on the battlefield for Enfield rifle-muskets whenever one became available. The Civil War, an era in America history that changed the countrys future. Her ancestors fought for both sides, however, the gun in question arrived to us through her late father who grew up in rural Mississippi (born 1940s) and moved to North Carolina in the 1970s. [12] A South Carolina officer estimated that only one in every 400 shots fired resulted in a hit. At the same time, Northern rifle and gun manufacturers such as Sharps, Colt, Remington, and the Springfield Armory quickly increased their production of rifles;[18] Springfield alone increased its annual output from 20,000 to 200,000. Gun - Musket - 1861 Springfield. 2. Sir Joseph Whitworth was the man behind the machine, inspired by cannon design in conceiving his polygonal rifled long gun. #4. These differences made it easy to operate from horseback with accuracy, and this accuracy is what inspired the English term, "sharpshooter." When the American Civil War broke out in April 1861, neither the North (about 360,000 small arms) nor the South (about 240,000) had enough weapons to fight a major war. Cannonballs were solid, round objects that would ricochet off the ground and often used to target fortifications and enemy artillery. And it might be one of the most unique long-gun designs of the war, and perhaps overall firearms history. Jackson had little luck with sales of the carbine until the Civil War broke out. The American Revolution was foughtand wonwith guns, and the weapons have become ingrained in U.S. culture, but the invention of firearms started long before colonists ever settled . You have entered an incorrect email address! Extremely rare LeMat percussion grape shot revolver. If needed all that had to be done was put the caps on nipples and it was ready to shoot.. Originally produced at the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield, England, approximately 900,000 of these muskets were imported during 18611865, seeing use in every major battle from Shiloh onward. We buy, sell, identify, authenticate and appraise Antique Civil War and Confederate Firearms of all types, manufactured prior to 1866. Christian Sharps falling-block still stirs the hearts of marksmen today. The Colt repeating rifle was one of the first repeating rifles, alongside with the Henry. (2001). United States:University Press of Kansas. Can anyone identify this firearm? "J.B.L." is visible along with a date "Apr 29 1865" right below the initials. Come join the discussion about optics, hunting, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Spencer Repeating Rifle/Carbine. Mike, a NPS Ranger at Fort Pulaski in GA, demonstrates how to fire a Civil War style rifle, demonstrating the commands for e. We have an old rifle that has been passed on through my wifes family from, we believe, the Ciivil War. Designed by the famous Civil War General Ambrose Burnside in 1853 before the war, the Burnside carbine was originally produced, delivered, and trialed to the United States government in 1858. Despite the rifles impressive capabilities the British military did not adopt the .451-caliber Whitworth. Others, especially those in later purchases, were described as horrible in both design and condition. The guns effective range was listed at 200 yards which was fairly impressive for a long gun of the era. Hi. Once they shot what they had on hand, there was no way to replenish their supplies, given the ammo manufacturers were based in the North. A Colt Model 1860 Army revolver, shipped to New Orleans on April 9, 1861, only three days before the Confederates attacked Fort Sumter. Although it had a .577 caliber bore it could use the same .58 caliber Mini ball as the Springfield. The six shooter, single action black powder gun could do some damage to an opponent up to about 100 yards away. [5], Historian Allen C. Guelzo argues that one technical reason such short ranges persisted was the continued use of black powder. Some southern cavalry and guerrillas used shotguns but their barrels were cut off short. Old Winchester rifles are synonymous with the America during the 19th century, Civil War Political Cartoons: Behind the History, Cartoons haven't always been used to bring humor to the Sunday newspapers; rather, throughout history, they've been used to illustrate the pulse of contemporary society. Inventors and military men devised new types of weapons, such . The back action lock is European for the most part and even US made guns for the most part used imported locks. Sharps rifles of the Civil War era tend to be unique and more sought after Civil War rifle finds. As with the Spencer, it provided overwhelming firepower in a conflict dominated by muzzleloaders. The standard weapon of the British Army between 1853 and 1867, like the Springfield the Enfield was a single-shot, muzzleloading rifle musket. for cover. We specialize in arms made by Colt, Remington, Sharps, Spencer, Union . What kind of French muskets? The lowest selling went for $3,163 and was a civilian model. One of the most fascinating markings on the gun is carved initials in the stock of the gun. For this reason, many Civil . [19], The use of more exotic types of ammunition during the Civil War is harder to confirm. Back in our 2018 December Premiere Auction, RIAC sold a standard, good conditioned Springfield Model 1861 for $3,163. Five different models were manufactured and approximately 43 Union cavalry regiments used the Burnside exclusively. The most widely accepted figure estimates 620,000 men lost their lives in the four years of war. With all due respect, the rear sight is the same as on the 1863 Springfield. The Burnside rifle was a carbine developed by General Ambrose Burnside in 1856. It is a great option for a collector on a budget. The South didnt have the manufacturing ability to produce the guns they needed, so they contracted 5,000 to be produced overseas. It was a hollow shell filled with scraps . Case shot was an anti-personnel projectile, meaning it was used against soldiers. The purchase was agreed to by none other than General John Fremont (who is infamous for another shady firearms deal). The Enfield had a stepped flip up sight, which was adjustable from 100900 yards (91823m) (1,200 yards (1,100m) in later models) in 100 yard increments. Calibre .52 and Gwyn and Campbell carbine, Prussian Muskets (hand-written onto form), Austrian Muskets (hand-written onto form), This page was last edited on 25 April 2023, at 17:08. Since the 17th century, infantry normally fought in a tight shoulder-to-shoulder line and fired volleys at each other. Some types of rifles were regionally specific, while others were used across all arenas of the war. Prohibitive cost, however, stymied wider adoption. More accurate firearms, able to be fired at a higher rate, combined with outdated military tactics to pulverize vast swaths of men in the blue and the gray. And despite its overall popularity with the troops, few of the rifle variation made it into their hands. However, some soldiers personally bought the Civil War gun before the government approved a contract. Civil War rifles like the Springfield Model 1861 musket and Sharps were key elements to battle and are sought-after guns by Civil War memorabilia collectors today, while those who fancy handguns seek out Colt Model 1860 Army or Model 1851 Navy revolvers. When one side gained the upper hand, they would finish off the attack with a bayonet charge. Thus, the short-lived Burnside rifle didn't become a major winner with soldiers during the war. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. This rifle was manufactured for the Union army. In the decades leading up to the Civil War, numerous advances had been made in weapons. The carbine was the third most used amongst forces during the war only trailing behind the Spencer and Sharps. Civil War Bullet Types - Pistol and Rifle Such a far-reaching war required a large collection of firearms which, in turn, relied on a vast collection of ammunition types. Used by both the Confederate and Union troops, the Sharps were often used as a sniper rifle. Suspected it was loaded. Round balls did not fit so tightly into the barrel, and therefore did not suffer from the slow loading problem common to rifles. The side with the best production plants and firepower was ultimately more likely to win the war. To combat the arms shortage, the Union and Confederacy both imported large quantities of rifles from Europe, with each side buying whatever they could get. How to classify and identify Civil War rifles like the Henry Repeater. Another had identified it as Austrian: Muster 1842 k.k. There's a barrel key in the forearm. By 1864, some Union companies were armed with them, although rarely whole regiments. This appears to have been issued to the 61st Infantry Regiment (Hungarian) (Graf von Strassoldo), Company A, 4th weapon, when it was in k.k. Muzzle velocity reached 950 feet per second. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. It was capable of firing three rounds a minute at an effective range of 500 yards but could be deadly at longer ranges. These are a few of the more unique rifles that have documented use during the 19th century conflict. The differences between the Model 1860 Army and the Model 1851 Navy were the Army has bigger grips and a rounder look, and a more powerful caliber as compared to .36 caliber and smaller boxier design of the Navy. The rifle showed gray patina and mild wear from use which is pretty astounding considering the age. The speed and reliability of the Spencer is what made it stand above many of the other guns produced at the time. The rifle was completely original and still retains almost all its blue coloring on the barrel. Unfortunately for the lucky Confederate troops who happened to capture these rifles from Union soldiers, there wasn't an easy way to access the special ammunition that the guns required. A large number were bored out to .58 caliber so that they could use the same ammunition as the Springfield and Enfield rifle-muskets. you read and agreed to the, American Civil War Artifacts & Collectibles. But there were relatively few that did. Many soldiers saved their salaries to buy their own Henry rifle as their government issued weapons couldn't hold up to the rifle's speed and lethality. It used a percussion lock, was similar in length, and had three barrel bands, like the Springfield and Enfield. The Colt revolver made its way to be the second most common military hand gun of the Confederacy. [8] A lack of training resulted not only in poor accuracy but in mishandling which could render the rifle useless. Many soldiers were forced to use their own personal hunting rifles, which were typically Kentucky or Pennsylvania type rifles. .44 (takes metallic cartridge), English Sapper rifled, "Enfield" pattern. "Civil War Firearms: Their Historical Background and Tactical Use" By Joseph G. Bilby, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, United States armory at Springfield, Massachusetts, 1866 Springfield "Trapdoor" infantry rifle, http://www.nps.gov/archive/gett/soldierlife/webguns.htm, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, It has been suggested that this article be merged into. We auctioned off the beauty for $21,850. (2012). But the Henry made its way into Civil War lore through soldiers spending their own hard-earned pay on the brass-receiver beasts. For instance, one was produced specially for African-American troops, and another for Zouave units. This page is not available in other languages. Went off and smoked up the shop, I have unloaded a few old doubles myself . Serial numbers are a way to pin down an exact date for antique weapons, so long as their manufacturer's historic records are publicly available. The old gal looks rode hard and put away wet. After experimenting with the failed Maynard primer system on the Model 1855 musket, the Model 1861 reverted to the more reliable percussion lock. Outstanding Civil War U.S. Springfield Model 1861 percussion rifle-musket dated 1862 with bayonet. The caplock replaced the flintlock, improving performance in wet weather and allowing for a slightly higher rate of fire, and the use of rifling with mechanically fitted bullets was tested by several inventors. [20], The second-most widely used rifle of the Civil War, and the weapon most widely used by the Confederates, was the British Pattern 1853 Enfield. Email us at Mail@HistoricalArms.net or call 440-744-9088 (11am - 8pm Eastern Time) Black powder fouled the rifling in the barrel and produced thick clouds of smoke which hung about the battlefield and obscured targets. Slight improvements were made on the rifle in 1863 and new production Springfield rifles were called the Model 1863. During the American Civil War, there was a real transitory period happening within the firearms industry. Battle Tactics of the Civil War. The flintlock, which had been in use for almost two hundred years, had been replaced by the caplock in the 1840s.
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how to identify civil war rifles 2023