.58 caliber. 40" round barrel secured by three flat spring-retained bands. NSN. Bright finish, 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 a swelled-shank, tulip head ramrod. Lock marked in two lines under the bolster U.S./NORFOLK, with a {Spread-Winged Eagle} and dated 1863 horizontally at the tail. Top of breech with matching 1863 date, left angled flat with V/P{Eagle Head} proofs. Counterpane of stock with correct WW Welch/NORFOLK CT two line maker's cartouche. A well struck correct script PVBH inspection cartouche is present at the tail of the counterpane, the mark of arsenal sub-inspector Peter V.B. Havens. US marked buttplate tang, U marks on barrel bands. Left breech flat with a small H sub-inspection mark. Like so many of the contractors who entered the arms production field during the Civil War, Welch was only moderately successful in producing guns and in the end only delivered 18,360 rifle muskets between 1862 and 1865 with the bulk of the deliveries taking place in 1863. This is a very nice and correct example of one of the less common contractor produced US Model 1861 Rifle Muskets. {ANTIQUE}