.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 3-leaf rear sight, Barleycorn combination front sight and socket bayonet lug, sling swivel and a swelled shank tulip head ramrod. Lock marked with a {Spread-Winged Eagle} forward of the hammer and in three horizontal lines, U.S./NORWICH. with the date 1863 at the tail. Top of breech with matching 1863 date and left angled flat with typical V/P/{Eagle Head} proof marks. Counterpane with oval JD MOWRY/NORWICH/CONN maker's cartouche and two script inspection cartouches, an AJN for Augustus J Noble and a second, not fully legible cartouche. Like so many of the contractors to produced Model 1861 Rifle Muskets during the Civil War, the story of James D Mowry is somewhat convoluted and confusing. The firm received a total of three contracts for Model 1861s, totaling 42,000 guns and in the end delivered roughly half that amount, a total of 22,000 with 11,000 each being delivered in 1863 and 1864. {ANTIQUE}