Harpers Ferry US Model 1855 Rifle Musket dated 1858

American Civil War

.58 caliber. 40" barrel secured by three flat, spring retained bands. NSN. Bright finish, iron furniture, brass nose cap, full-length walnut musket stock. Single shot percussion muzzleloading rifle musket with Maynard automatic tape primer, M1855 long range rear sight, Barleycorn combination front sight and socket bayonet lug, sling swivels and swelled shank tulip head ramrod. Lock marked with a {Spread Winged Eagle} on the tape primer magazine door and in two lines U.S./HARPERS, FERRY forward of the hammer. Dated 1858 at tail of lock and weakly on top of the breech. Standard V/P/{Eagle Head} proofs on breech. No cartouches legible in stock. {ANTIQUE}

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Good. Bore dark and heavily oxidized with some pitting and weak rifling. Metal heavily oxidized with a rich brown patina, scattered patches of surface roughness and some scattered pitting. Markings in metal remain mostly visible, with a very weak breech date. No visible cartouches. Mechanically functional lock with complete tape primer mechanism. Wood with moderate wear and numerous bumps, dings and mars.

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Mr. Tim Prince

Senior Consulting Specialist, Arms, Armor & Militaria

timprince@freemansauction.com 312 280 1212

Tim Prince has more than 30-years of experience in the field of antique and collectible arms and is a nationally recognized expert in the area of Civil War small arms. A long-time researcher and author, Tim has been a contributing author to two major books about Civil War firearms, including The English Connection: Arms, Material and Support Furnished to the Confederate States of America by Great Britain (2014) and Confederate Shotguns and Southern Agent Marked Shotguns (2017). He was also a major contributor to the recently updated Blue Book of Antique American Firearms & Values – 2nd Edition (2019) as well as the 2010 updates to the Civil War Collector's Price Guide - 12th edition. Over the last decade Tim has authored more than 50 articles on 19th century collectible and military arms, which have been published in such varied publications as Civil War News, North-South Trader, and Military Antique Collector. Since 2016 has appeared as a featured appraiser in the field of Arms & Militaria on the popular PBS television series Antiques Roadshow. He is a member of the American Society of Arms Collectors and currently serves on the board of directors of that organization. He is also a member of and formerly served on the board of directors of the Society of American Bayonet Collectors. Tim is a life member of the Ohio Valley Military Society, the Tennessee Military Collectors Association, the Alabama Military Collectors Association, is a member of the Company of Military Historians and is a member of numerous other colleting groups and societies. He is the owner of College Hill Arsenal, a web based antique and collectible arms retail web site, specializing in the American Civil War and related military items. Tim has engaged in the business of buying, selling, researching, and appraising antique and collectible arms and associated military items for some three decades. Since 2016 he has also served as a senior Consulting Specialist in the field of Arms, Armor & Militaria for Cowan’s Auctions, a Freeman's Company.

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Harpers Ferry US Model 1855 Rifle Musket dated 1858

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