The second most widely used weapon of the Civil War, and the most widely used weapon by the Confederates, was the British Pattern 1853 Enfield. Reference materials are a must-have for any person interested in Civil War firearms or antique firearm collecting in general. The South didnt have the manufacturing ability to produce the guns they needed, so they contracted 5,000 to be produced overseas. The seven-shot Spencer was produced in rifle and carbine versions, although the latter was more common. The Le Mat saw wear-and-tear but still showed good plum and brown patina. Most of the rifles during that time were loaded with a small lead musket ball or with a minnie ball (or Mini ball) and black powder. It is a nice family heirloom, Congratulations! The Brunswick rifle was a high tech rifle during the 1830s when it was originally manufactured, but by the 1860s, it was an obsolete firearm. The Sharps continued to make history after the war. The firearm was the most used carbine of the war and the most commonly carried by Union cavalry, with some 90,000 produced. The balance is believed to have been altered by Henry Leman, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania using a patent breech like the ones used on his alterations of US M1816 muskets and M1803, M1814, and M1817 common rifles. The Perpetually Frozen North. Guns with a story and background are extremely interesting and exciting to collect with the Civil War era being a time that has many tales to tell. United States:University Press of Kansas. Charles Pate found records while researching his book "The Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver" that indicated this revolver was shipped to Colt's New York sales office, a common destination for many of the fluted cylinder Army revolvers. Not only is the Sharps perhaps one of the most elegant rifles to come out of the Civil War era, it also performed. From the start of the war, the Colt Model 1860 Army took over as the hand gun primarily used by Union forces. During 1863, Sharps was the carbine prominently used by Union soldiers. I learned this the hard way. And it might be one of the most unique long-gun designs of the war, and perhaps overall firearms history. Rifles had been in use for many years, but prior to the civil war had been rare in military use. 4 | "War in an Age of Wonders" By Michael P. Musick The information most sought after in ordnance records is data on the issuance of arms by serial number. By the end of the war, approximately 1.5 million Springfield rifle muskets had been produced by the Springfield Armory and 20 subcontractors. A forum community dedicated to all firearm owners and enthusiasts. United States:Dover Publications. Very few Burnside rifles can be found still in this excellent of condition. E. Remington & Sons on June 13, 1862, entered into two Army contracts. Besides being known for his poor generalship, stylish facial hair and being the first president of the NRA, Ambrose Burnside was also a firearms innovator. Both sides fielded what ever guns could be . The flintlock, which had been in use for almost two hundred years, had been replaced by the caplock in the 1840s. The Confederates attempted to claim the moral high ground by arguing they never stooped to using exploding bullets, however the Richmond Arsenal manufactured at least 100,000 exploding bullets and examples of Confederates using exploding bullets can be found during the Battle of Glendale and the Siege of Vicksburg. Engagements, however, generally happened at much closer range, making the 1861 all the more deadly. However, the Sharps carbine was very common, with over 90,000 produced. Christopher Spencers design limited the chance of dirt and other obstructions from rendering the carbine non-functional, an important feature for a rifle bound for battle. The tubular magazine in the buttstock was quick on the reload too, particularly with the aid of a Blakeslee cartridge tube, which made its appearance later in the war. 1863. A sketch details the 14th Brooklyn regiment's uniform jacket, vest and kepi. Any identification marks are most likely on the bottom of the barrels, under the wood. Advances in firearms technology were quickly progressing in the mid-1800s making for some seriously well designed and powerful arms development during the Civil War. Thank you for the quick and enlightening responses. Originally produced at the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield, England, approximately 900,000 of these muskets were imported during 18611865, seeing use in every major battle from Shiloh onward. [23][24], Many older Springfield muskets, such as the Springfield Model 1842, which had been converted into rifles were also brought out of storage due to the arms shortage. ammunition used by both Union and Confederate armies. The rounds fired by the Lorenz were considered inferior to the .58 caliber Mini ball, and while the rifle could be rebored to accept a larger bullet the process could affect barrel quality. rimfire) made by the Federal Government (at Springfield Armory) and actually designed for issue to infantrymen was the Model 1865 Springfield Joslyn Rifle, of which only 3,007 were made. It appears be a percussion muzzle loading shotgun, not a rifle. While most shoulder fired rifles during the time fired a bullet between 350 and 500 grains propelled by 40 to 60 grains of powder the Henry rifle shot a small .44 bullet of only 200 grains and 26 to 28 grains of black powder, giving it a quite short range. The invention of the Mini ball solved the slow loading problem, allowing smoothbore muskets to be replaced by rifles in the decades just before the civil war. 1861. The six shooter, single action black powder gun could do some damage to an opponent up to about 100 yards away. Civil War U.S. Springfield Model 1861 Percussion Rifle-Musket Dated 1862 with Bayonet. To others, they were next to trash. This rifle had first seen action in the Second Italian War of Independence. Length of barrel is 42 inches. One of the most popular items to collect from the annals of American history is Civil War rifles. John Russell is a Civil War Historian and Collector who brought a historic Enfield rifle to show off at a Texas Independence Day Party in late February. Used by both the Confederate and Union troops, the Sharps were often used as a sniper rifle. The rifle was produced under military contract with S.C. Robinson Arms Manufactory and was made in the breech loading style of the Sharps rifle. Therefore, you can't always rely on age to be an indicator as to whether a weapon saw action during the Civil War. 6. The revolver was in in good condition retaining gray and brown patina and had character with a few dents and scratches. Slight improvements were made on the rifle in 1863 and new production Springfield rifles were called the Model 1863. Both Union and Confederate armies used this accuracy to devastating effect, flinging the .58-caliber, 500-grain Mini balls at each other from up to 500 yards out. The range and accuracy were big selling points, as well as its .44 caliber which provided excellent stopping power. The Spencer carbine, on the other hand, was widely utilized, with around 90,000 being produced for the war effort. In April of 2018, a desirable Sharps Model 1853 slant breech percussion carbine sold for $12,650 at auction. The Henry repeating rifle can be considered the Rolls Royce of guns manufactured during the Civil War. The standard weapon of the British Army between 1853 and 1867, like the Springfield the Enfield was a single-shot, muzzleloading rifle musket. This allowed the projectile to expand upon firing and take hold of the rifling, and in turn stabilize and be truly accurate. $1,398.00. Mounted charges gave way to dismounted combat where men would tie up their horses and fight on foot. The bayonet is unmarked except for the date of 1861. We did not manufacture guns of this nature in the US. In order for rifling to impart a spin upon a projectile it has to have a tight fit, and with weapons of the time being muzzleloaders this made it much slower to load and fire a rifle compared to a musket. If it was manufactured between 1860-1864, chances are pretty high that it was used in some capacity in the war. The Lorenz rifle was similar in design to the Enfield rifle-musket. "J.B.L." is visible along with a date "Apr 29 1865" right below the initials. The ignition source was a folded rim on the inside of the gun. In comparison to the Springfield's three rounds per minute, the Henry rifle could fire 28 rounds per minute. Pulled wads, shot and powder. This rifled musket , with the lock marking "1861 Springfield" and an eagle, was the principal infantry arm of the civil war. The men's main complaint about these rifles was that the unusually shaped cartridge often got stuck in the barrel after firing. Military leaders therefore preferred the faster loading smooth bore weapons over the more accurate rifles. Whether the Civil War gun youre in the market for is a rifle, carbine, or revolver, you hopefully now know a little more about which ones to purchase for your taste and budget. I would guess the gun originated in Belgium. During the American Civil War, the rifle was the most common weapon found on the battlefield. 1. And despite its overall popularity with the troops, few of the rifle variation made it into their hands. It is estimated that the Union armed 43 cavalry units with the gun. The speed and reliability of the Spencer is what made it stand above many of the other guns produced at the time. I have a sword it has a straight blade a bent brass hilt, total length 38 1 Smoothbore vs Rifled Musket, a Tactical Reality Check. [19], The use of more exotic types of ammunition during the Civil War is harder to confirm. The Union purchased 226,924 Lorenz rifles, and the Confederacy bought as many as 100,000.[3]. p. 73-74, Coggins,J. Only about 2,500 made it to the Confederacy by means of their gun runners. Explore this article. List of Civil War Rifles and Their Unique Features, Civil War Weapons: A Closer Look at History, Winchester Firearms Values of Antique Models, Civil War Weapons: An Illustrated Guide to the Wide Range of Weaponry Used on the Battlefield, Civil War Firearms: Their Historical Background and Tactical Use. Nonetheless, Henry and Spencer rifles were used at the December 1864 Battle of Nashville to quite devastating effect. Their primary use was anti-materiel such as setting fire to vehicles and ammunition, since their fragmentary properties were deemed at best to cause unnecessarily cruel wounds. Civil War Handgun professionals specializing in appraisals of antique revolvers and pistols used by Union and Confederate forces during and before the Civil War. What might be surpr. The rifle showed gray patina and mild wear from use which is pretty astounding considering the age. Save my name and email to use for future comments. Beauregard, a Confederate Civil War general, the Le Mat was created in 1856 before the outbreak of the war. Some shotguns were used in the very beginning, mostly by southern troops but were discarded after the first battle or two when better weapons were acquired from the dead.

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how to identify civil war rifles