Harpers Ferry US Model 1855 Type IV Iron Mounted Rifle

American Civil War

.58 caliber. 33" round barrel secured by two flat iron spring retained bands. NSN. Bright barrel, color casehardened lock, iron furniture with short brass nose cap, walnut stock. Single shot, muzzleloading percussion rifle with Maynard automated tape primer lock. Lock marked in two horizontal lines forward of the hammer: US/HARPERS FERRY and dated 1859 at tail of lock. Primer magazine door with {Spread-Winged Eagle}. Breech dated 1859 as well, breech with standard V/P/{Eagle Head} inspection marks. Counterpane with two clear script cartouches, the AMB of Harpers Ferry's Master Armorer Armistead M Bell and the TR of Thomas Russell, foreman of the Harpers Ferry rifle shop. US on buttplate tang, "U" marks on both barrel bands. 1858 Pattern three-leaf, short base rear sight with the sight leaves appropriately marked "R", low-base iron rifle front sight, saber bayonet lug on obverse of barrel near muzzle. Iron furniture throughout, with the exception of the short brass nose cap. Second type stock with patchbox cut in an oval with an original spare nipple in the patchbox. 1855 pattern hammer with primer tape cutter face and notch in nose. Rifle retains both sling swivels and an original tulip head, swelled shank ramrod with good threads at the end. This was a transitional variation of the 1855 Rifle, long known simply as the "Type II" 1855 Rifle, lumping all iron mounted guns together regardless of evolution or minor differences in features. Willyard has reclassified these guns as "Type IV" and his research suggests that only 294 of these iron mounted rifles with brass nose caps were produced circa 1859, using up the inventory of old stock tips available. A very nice example of the classic "iron mounted" variant of the 1855 rifle to be made before the war erupted.

The Collection of John Vagnetti

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

ex-Everett "Birdie" Partridge Collection

Fine. Bore very good, moderately oxidized and with some light pitting but retaining very good rifling. Metal with a mottled and oxidized brownish gray patina with some scattered pin pricking, mostly around the breech and bolster area, as well as some lightly scattered minor surface roughness. Lock with a rich bluish-brown patina with some traces of case coloring, other steel parts with a mottled and oxidized brownish patina similar to the barrel. Markings are relatively clear throughout. Mechanically functional lock with the Maynard primer system complete. Wood fairly crisp and with some feathery texture in some areas, not sanded and with nice edges. Two chips are present on either side of the breechplug tang, with the right one showing an old repair with a square nail the left one showing some missing wood. Otherwise the wood shows the expected scattered bumps, dings and mars. There is also some minor gapping at the buttplate on the reverse and a tiny crack between the buttplate and the patchbox on the obverse.

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Arms, Armor and Militaria

Harpers Ferry US Model 1855 Type IV Iron Mounted Rifle

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