Extremely Rare Leman Civil War Era Percussion Militia Rifle

.58 caliber. 33" barrel secured by two flat, spring-retained iron bands. SN: NSN. Bright finish, brass and iron furniture, walnut stock. Flat military style percussion lock marked in two lines "LEMAN/LANCTR. PA" with nocksform of barrel marked similarly with lower line illegible due to pitting. Fixed notch rear sights, brass blade front sight, no provision for bayonet. Crudely made iron trumpet head ramrod appears to be a period of use replacement that is similar in appearance to the real Leman rod. Two-piece triggerguard, S-shaped side plate, buttplate and patchbox all of brass and US Model 1841 "Mississippi Rifle" style. These very scarce military pattern rifles were produced by Henry Leman of Lancaster and were really based on the US Model 1855 rifle, although as a simplified version. He hoped to acquire military contracts during the American Civil War to produce rifles and muskets for the US government. Less than 300 of these rifles were produced, and most references believe that the majority of the guns were re-sold to Pennsylvania arms makers J. Henry & Son and P.S. Justice, who then likely sold them to Pennsylvania militia units. In more than twenty years of collecting and dealing in Civil War long arms this is the only example this cataloger has handled with Mississippi Rifle style furniture and a Mississippi Rifle patchbox. A wonderful and very rare untouched Civil War militia rifle that may have been his original sample or prototype rifle for the run of militia rifles that he produced.

The Collection of Larry Ness