Fine US Springfield Model 1863 Rifle Musket With Post Civil War Whitney Retailer Mark

American Civil War

.58 caliber. 40" round barrel secured by three rounded screw-clamping barrel bands. NSN. Bright finish, color casehardened lock and hammer, blued rear sight, iron furniture, walnut stock. Single shot percussion muzzleloading rifle musket with M1861 pattern 3 leaf rear sight, Barleycorn combination front sight and socket bayonet lug, sling swivels and straight shank tulip head ramrod. Lock marked with a {Spread-Winged Eagle}/U.S. forward of the hammer and in two horizontal lines U.S./SPRINGFIELD and dated 1863 at the tail. Breech of barrel dated 1863 as well. Upper left breech with typical V/ P/{Eagle Head} inspection marks. Counterpane of stock with two inspection cartouches, the first the script HSH of Springfield Arsenal sub-inspector Henry S Hill and the second a clear script ESA of Springfield's Master Armorer Erskine S Allin. Obverse stock with {Spread-Winged Eagle} over Whitney Arms Co. In 1867 Whitney sold 6,943 US Springfield Model 1863 Rifle Muskets that he had acquired as surplus after the war. These guns were stamped with the Whitney Arms Co logo on the stock and typically had their barrels and furniture blued. Likely many of these guns ended up seeing service during the Franco-Prussian War. A very nice example of a completely correct US Model 1863 Rifle Musket that was then resold after the war by Eli Whitney Jr. {ANTIQUE}

From the Lifetime Collection of Robert G. Paulsen

This lot is located in Cincinnati.