how to identify civil war rifles how to identify civil war rifles

But the Henry made its way into Civil War lore through soldiers spending their own hard-earned pay on the brass-receiver beasts. 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. This was converted from tubelock to percussion by Henry Leman of Lancaster, PA, in converted from tubelock to percussion by Henry Leman of Lancaster, PA, in late 1862 or early 1863. Nevertheless, the Federal government did eventually purchase thousands of these weapons, and thousands more were purchased by Union soldiers using their own money. Linear formations were thus rarely seen any more (although it did occur in the Battle of Brawner's Farm the evening before Second Bull Run). [20] Despite their extensive use by both sides in the war, soldiers' opinions on the rifle were decidedly negative. The war itself not only shaped the country politically, but also spiked a rush of innovation in manufacturing. The military tried to work around this in various ways, but the Colt Revolving rifle was discontinued. Granville Stuart's Sharps Model 1874 Creedmoor No. The most widely accepted figure estimates 620,000 men lost their lives in the four years of war. Tests conducted by the U.S. Army indicated that the .58 caliber was more accurate at a distance. Serendipitously, Sir Whitworth found another market for his rifle at the outset of the American Civil War the Confederates. [18] To combat the arms shortage, the Union and Confederacy both imported large quantities of rifles from Europe, with each side buying whatever it could get. Small shipments of this high caliber percussion rifle were delivered to the United States Armies during the Civil War. The North was thus able to supply its own small arms needs while the South had to continue to rely on foreign sources, eventually purchasing 580,000 rifles.[1]. The Ask the Pros & What's It Worth? The old gal looks rode hard and put away wet. Dec 13, 2014. Typical appearing 1840's to 1860's/early 1870's double barrel muzzleloading shotgun. #4. Burnsides company went under and he sold his patent to Charles Jackson. [10] However many officers preferred the machine-made Springfield musket over the handcrafted Enfield thanks to the interchangeability of their parts. This page is not available in other languages. Civilian models did see war time uses if a soldier privately purchased the firearm, but it is hard to tell if the Civil War gun was for battle or just purchased by someone for general protection. 60th North Carolina Infantry Inscribed Rifle. This allowed the projectile to expand upon firing and take hold of the rifling, and in turn stabilize and be truly accurate. [1][3] Previously, historians of the war such as James M. McPherson have argued that the increased range of the rifled musket rendered the Napoleonic tactics with which Civil War commanders continued to fight obsolete and bloody. Manufactured in New Haven, Connecticut, these rifles have an iconic gold lever-action mechanism and blue finish. 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. That is, if you consider a gun designed to fire hexagonal bullets a bit odd. That is definitely at the high end of the pricing spectrum. 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. Took a propane torch to heat them and I had not removed all the caked in powder. Whitworth rifles were equipped with either Enfield style sights or telescopic sights. [1][2], One significant advantage the rifled musket had over the smoothbore was its effective range. Advertisements. The Spencer carbine and rifle were first presented to the government in 1860, but were rejected by the United States because they were 7 shooters and fired too fast for accuracy. Hi. Outstanding Civil War U.S. Spencer Model 1860 Army repeating rifle with sling and bayonet. Polly Pocket: History & Value of Barbies Biggest 90s Rival. Some types of rifles were regionally specific, while others were used across all arenas of the war. These old and obsolete weapons were replaced by newer weapons as they became available. The key may be pinned and not come all the way out. The majority of Le Mats that actually saw use in battle were produced in France and shipped via the United Kingdom to the Confederacy. Both sides accused the other of using poisoned bullets, and while neither government authorized their use and manufacture, it is possible that individuals modified their bullets in this way. Many smooth bore muskets dating all the way back to the Springfield Model 1812 were brought out of storage for similar reasons. The first rifled muskets had used a larger .69 caliber Mini ball, since they had simply taken .69 caliber smooth bore muskets and rifled their barrels. However, these old and obsolete weapons were replaced by newer weapons as they became available. The Napoleonic cavalry charge was thus made both obsolete and suicidal by rifles. United States:Dover Publications. However, the military was still using tactics such as firing by ranks, and feared that shorter barrels would result in soldiers in the back ranks accidentally shooting front rank soldiers in the back of the head. The Henry rifle had a copper or brass cartridge that effectively sealed the breech of the gun so that the hot propellant gases would be held inside of the gun. Its no wonder both sides wanted a handful of Burnsides in their soldiers hands. While perhaps not as fast between shots as other repeaters that made their appearance in the Civil War it had to be manually cocked the Spencer was perhaps the most reliable. Most Colt Revolving Rifles were eventually sold off by the War Department for 55 cents just to get rid of them. At least two major battles in the Civil War, Gaines Mill and Gettysburg, saw such attempts, both with predictable results. 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. Most rifles of this era were muzzle loaded rifled muskets. 1860. Again, the high level of condition shown is rare to come by with Civil War guns considering the predicted heavy use and age of the firearms. Approximately 900,000 Enfield rifles were imported by both the North and South during the Civil War and it was considered the best of the foreign-sourced rifles. Although it had a .577 caliber bore it could use the same .58 caliber Mini ball as the Springfield. Designed by the famous Civil War General Ambrose Burnside in 1853 before the war, the Burnside carbine was originally produced, delivered, and trialed to the United States government in 1858. It MIGHT have been fired during the War - but was NOT a war weapon - it was used to hunt birds, rabbits and squirrels. Black powder fouled the rifling in the barrel and produced thick clouds of smoke which hung about the battlefield and obscured targets. Despite somewhat limited use, the muzzleloader still reached mythological status with Rebel sharpshooters who achieved some truly astounding shots with the rifle, and in the process struck terror into Union troops. Model 1861 Springfield rifle-muskets became one of the favorite longarms for the Union. Most suggestions that I have received is the Whitney/Plymouth Naval rifle. I need help in identifying the attached photo, Need help identifying uniforms and building, Looking for help identifying a Civil War era sword -, I need help identifying a possible Civil War Uniform. Available May 2022. Yes Sir, I unloaded one just the other day. The benefit of this Civil War rifle was that it could be fired in rapid succession without pausing to reload after each shot. p. 109-110, Historical Dictionary of the U.S. Army. Here we present an antique Enfield Pattern 1853 Rifle-Musket, made in 1862 in England. Five different models were manufactured and approximately 43 Union cavalry regiments used the Burnside exclusively. The long gun eventually was approved for battle later in the war and made its first official appearance in the Battle of Gettysburg. Battle Tactics of the Civil War. The first contract called for 5,000 Model 1861 caliber .36 revolvers at a cost of $12 each. From the start of the war, the Colt Model 1860 Army took over as the hand gun primarily used by Union forces. United Kingdom:Greenwood Press. The Lorenz rifle was similar in design to the Enfield rifle-musket. Rifle Musket. in Public History, Megan is fascinated by vintage & antique items. This is a good price for a scarce and desirable gun. The lowest selling went for $3,163 and was a civilian model. Military leaders therefore preferred the faster loading smooth bore weapons over the more accurate rifles. Used in the Civil War? These rifles were also equipped with a bayonet, and have the stereotypical silhouette associated with Civil War reenactments and big-budget Hollywood productions. Old Winchester rifles are synonymous with the America during the 19th century, Civil War Political Cartoons: Behind the History, Cartoons haven't always been used to bring humor to the Sunday newspapers; rather, throughout history, they've been used to illustrate the pulse of contemporary society. Admittedly, I know almost nothing about guns (a fact thats obvious to you). Christian Sharps falling-block still stirs the hearts of marksmen today. It is a nice looking shotgun as far as I can see. 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. During the American Civil War, an assortment of small arms found their way onto the battlefield.Though the muzzleloader percussion cap rifle was the most numerous weapon, being standard issue for the Union and Confederate armies, many other firearms, ranging from the single-shot breech-loading Sharps and Burnside rifles to the Spencer and the Henry rifles - two of the world's first repeating . [16], When the American Civil War broke out in April 1861, neither the North (about 360,000 small arms) nor the South (about 240,000) had enough weapons to fight a major war. [13][14] Cost was also an issue: in an era where a soldier earned $10-13 a month and a rifled musket might cost $10-20 to manufacture, a repeating rifle might cost $37-65 to manufacture. Save my name and email to use for future comments. The Civil War witnessed a technological revolution in weaponry. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. p. 401, SUMMARY STATEMENT of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on hand in the Cavalry Regiments in the Service of the United States during the Second quarter ending June 30, 1864, p. 88, List of weapons in the American Civil War, "Richmond Armory Model 1855 (Richmond Rifle)", "Harpers Ferry Model 1841 (Mississippi Rifle)", "Brunswick Rifle - Confederate Purchased", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rifles_in_the_American_Civil_War&oldid=1151695102, Ballard's rifled. Near the breech on the octagonal barrel is 78192, Length of the barrel please and I should be able to give you an answer. When it comes to fierce battles, rich history, and a wealth of innovative weapons, its hard to match the Civil War era. Spencer Repeating Rifle/Carbine. Armies South, Armies North. The third most widely used weapon of the Civil War was the Lorenz Rifle. The Enfield had a stepped flip up sight, which was adjustable from 100900 yards (91823m) (1,200 yards (1,100m) in later models) in 100 yard increments. Other rifles used during the Civil War were the British P-1841-Bored Brunswick Rifle (not common), Burnside carbine (used only by cavalry), Henry rifle (privately purchased by soldiers only), and the Spencer rifle (used almost exclusively by cavalry). Interestingly enough, Colt Manufacturing sent around 2,200 Model 1860 Colts to the South on contract early in the war. Rifles had been in use for many years, but prior to the civil war had been rare in military use. LIFE ; TECH ; How to Identify Revolutionary War Musket Balls. Any identification marks are most likely on the bottom of the barrels, under the wood. I can't tell from the pictures if the barrels are Damascus or not. The single-shot rotating-block carbine utilized one of the breakthrough firearms technologies of the time the self-contained cartridge. This weapon gave the Union an advantage over the Confederate troops. Suspected it was loaded. Crisis averted, but the . This rifle was mostly used by Confederate snipers. Inventors and military men devised new types of weapons, such . However the 1861 Special Model is correct as the real difference are in the shape of bolster on the barrel, the shallow notch for the bolster in the lock plate, and the hammer which is unique to the 1861 Special Model. [18], This collection contain smoothbore flintlocks converted into percussion muskets, some with their barrels rifled, Contract carbines as they were known at that time: Cosmopolitan, Sharps, Gallager, Smith and Burnside, Joslyn, Starr, Lindner, Warner, Maynard and Merrill carbines, Model 1816, Model 1842 and Model 1855 muskets, Confederate Richmond musket (top) along with U.S. Model 1861, British Pattern 1853 Enfield, U.S. Model 1861 muskets and Sharps rifle, Here is a number of Springfield Model 1861 contract rifles produced elsewhere except Springfield. Fact #5: Like previous wars, Civil War artillery could fire multiple types of ammunition. During the American Civil War, an assortment of small arms found their way onto the battlefield. If you don't know anything about them, I would not recommend trying to take it apart to show them. Known for its quality, accuracy, and reliability, the Enfield is one of the most sought after Civil War rifles today. After initial testing in the fall of 1862, the Union ordered 100,000 of these bullets and issued them to units in the field (such as the 2nd New Hampshire), although by the end of the war 75,000 rounds were still in storage. The Impossible Takes Longer Winter 1995, Vol. A handsome, durable and accurate rifle . Click here for more information. How to classify and identify Civil War rifles like the Henry Repeater. The back action lock is European for the most part and even US made guns for the most part used imported locks. 1. This rifled musket , with the lock marking "1861 Springfield" and an eagle, was the principal infantry arm of the civil war. The gunpowder would sometimes leak from the cartridges in the field and settle into the cylinder. Griffith,P.(2001). It is a great option for a collector on a budget. You can find these rifles in antique auctions around the country for a few thousand dollars, such as with this 1861 Sharps rifle that's listed for $3,499. Reference materials are a must-have for any person interested in Civil War firearms or antique firearm collecting in general. Traditionally, mounted soldiers carried a lance, sword, or pistol and could sweep enemy infantry weakened by artillery or musket fire. Visit the Civil War Arms Index. When the gun was fired, it would ignite all of the powder at once, sending a volley of metal into the left hand of the person firing. But the 24-inch, 9-pound brainchild of Benjamin Henry did have its weak points. Almost all rifles were made with iron barrels, while only some, like the Burnside, used steel, which then was expensive. But there were relatively few that did. Fateful Lightning: A New History of the Civil War and Reconstruction. Extremely rare LeMat percussion grape shot revolver. A sketch details the 14th Brooklyn regiment's uniform jacket, vest and kepi. The Rifle Musket in Civil War Combat: Reality and Myth. The Austrian-made firearm was used by both sides and was considered by some to be superior to the 1853 Enfield. If sending a check or money order, please mail, payable to: The History Store P.O. But even with those drawbacks, its hard to argue that a soldier with a Henry in his hands didn't have a great advantage over nearly any enemy he met. Serial numbers are a way to pin down an exact date for antique weapons, so long as their manufacturer's historic records are publicly available. These tactics developed because smoothbore muskets were only accurate at short ranges. Spencer rifles and carbines are highly desirable Civil War guns to military memorabilia collectors. The Lorenz rifle was originally .54 caliber. Slight improvements were made on the rifle in 1863 and new production Springfield rifles were called the Model 1863. This rifle had first seen action in the Second Italian War of Independence. k.k. The South didnt have the manufacturing ability to produce the guns they needed, so they contracted 5,000 to be produced overseas. What were the top long guns from the American Civil War? In addition, most existing military doctrine was based around the smoothbore musket. It had design similarities to the Colt revolver, with a rotating cylinder that held several rounds of ammunition (a unique feature on a rifle). 27, No. However, some soldiers personally bought the Civil War gun before the government approved a contract. Smooth-bore muskets were cast aside for updated rifled muskets (which still had the same components as a traditional musket but featured boring in the barrels that aided in keeping ammunition going in a straighter, more consistent, line upon exit). However, the Sharps carbine was very common, with over 90,000 produced. It is estimated that the Union armed 43 cavalry units with the gun. Only 13,000 Spencer rifles were purchased by the Union. Rifled muskets not only blunted the frontal assault by enemy infantry but also neutralized the offensive capabilities of cavalry and field artillery and thereby led to the increased usage of trench warfare. Thank you. 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. $1,398.00. 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. Despite these improvements, the Springfields rate of fire was similar to a muskets, around three aimed shots per minute. During the Civil War, Robert E. Lee was equipped with an 1851 Navy and the revolver model was the most prominently used by Confederate forces. [18], The third-most widely used rifle of the Civil War, and the most prolific of "second-class" weapons, was the Lorenz Rifle. Burnside Carbine. 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. William Brooke Johns, Hidden in Plain Sight: Compiled Service Records as Sources for Confederate Arms and Equipment, Firearms Genealogy: The Impossible Takes Longer. Those familiar with twentieth-century records often assume that official records of some kind will enable the possessor of a particular Colt percussion Army Model 1860 revolver (for . The black powder at the time quickly fouled the barrel, making reloading slower and more difficult. The American Civil War still remains the deadliest conflict in our nations history. Countless firearm experts have lent their own perspective to the subject, and a few contemporary books to check out are: Rifles from the Civil War are important pieces of history, and as such, they can command top prices from avid collectors, military enthusiasts, and Civil War fanatics. I could clearly see the add of "eggs-10 cents a dozen.". Some such weapons included clones of the Sharps carbine, the Richmond/Fayetteville rifles (a Springfield clone) and imitations of Enfield rifles and musketoons. The telescopic sights were more accurate, but had a reputation for bruising the user's eye due to the rifle's recoil. Whereas a smoothbore musket like the Brown Bess could be expected to accurately hit a target at a distance of several dozen yards, rifled muskets were reasonably accurate at a distance of 500 yards. The seven-shot Spencer was produced in rifle and carbine versions, although the latter was more common. The Civil War era is an antique arms collector's dream for the same reason it was a nightmare for the Ordnance Department: a dizzying array of weapons and ammunition. The Lorenz was a bit like playing craps, if craps entailed being killed if the dice were faulty. "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools" The Apostle Paul in Romans 1:22. Once they shot what they had on hand, there was no way to replenish their supplies, given the ammo manufacturers were based in the North. 2. Went off and smoked up the shop, I have unloaded a few old doubles myself . Can anyone identify this firearm? They are found, though, in many forms. Due to a lack of munitions manufacturers in the South, the Confederates depended on the British government to procure these weapons. A rugged design that was simple to construct, the Model 1861 and its derivatives (including the Springfield Model 1863) were the most common rifles in the war, with Northern arsenals producing over a million examples. I was working on a double barreled shotgun. If a soldier needed a firearm that had versatility and good repeating capability, it doesnt get much handier than this grapeshot revolver combo. Instead, the .58-caliber rifle (it shot a .577-caliber Mini ball) was an improvement on larger-bore predecessors. . While mainly a Union firearm, a few did fall into the hands of the Confederates. Outstanding Civil War U.S. Springfield Model 1861 percussion rifle-musket dated 1862 with bayonet. He is a gun owner and avid reloader from Colorado. The lever action gun could fire off 20 rounds a minute on average making it ten times faster than the traditional muzzleloaders of the time. The Springfield Armory produced the most popular rifle of the Civil War, the Springfield model 1861 musket rifle. During the American Civil War, there was a real transitory period happening within the firearms industry. Box 160 Llano, Texas 78643 If you have a specific identification question, please see our Identification Request Page. [2] Soldiers were often forced to use older smooth bore and flintlock muskets, which had been considered to be obsolete, simply because the newer rifles were not available in sufficient quantities. And despite its overall popularity with the troops, few of the rifle variation made it into their hands. All rights reserved. [8] A lack of training resulted not only in poor accuracy but in mishandling which could render the rifle useless. In fact, the reinterment of all the soldiers at the Camden Battlefield site is being delayed until the U.S. Army and the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust can turn the ground into a . There's a barrel key in the forearm. The gun is 50" long and 36" from the . (2001). Sharps were the most highly desirable Civil War rifles and carbines for sharpshooters. What kind of French muskets? Some Confederates got a hold of Henry rifles too, but faced the same problem they did when they captured a Sharps or a Spencer ammunition. Only about 2,500 made it to the Confederacy by means of their gun runners. Nonetheless, Henry and Spencer rifles were used at the December 1864 Battle of Nashville to quite devastating effect. The Colt repeating rifle was one of the first repeating rifles, alongside with the Henry. The second contract at the same . 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. The inventor of the gun was able to mass produce a cartridge that had a powerful powder charge. This is a pretty accurate depiction on what owning the Civil War gun Springfield Model 1861 would run you in the current day prices. For years, one of the standard manuals used in the US Army had been an 1835 translation by General Winfield Scott of a French work. The government was impressed with the inventive gun, however, the first carbine order took Burnsides company two years to produce and the government had no money left for contracts to produce more by the time the guns were delivered. Outdoor Hub, LLC (d/b/a Carbon Media Group), 30800 Telegraph Rd, Suite 1921, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 USA. 7. This outstanding "finest known" U.S. Army Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver is rated in excellent plus, as issued condition, about as near to mint as possible for a military contract revolver from more than a century and a half ago. The flintlock, which had been in use for almost two hundred years, had been replaced by the caplock in the 1840s. [2] see These used the less reliable Maynard tape primer firing mechanism which when damp could cause misfires, a flaw that had forced its original retirement in 1860 until it was re-introduced to meet the arms shortage. Typically, these rifles are sold for $1,000-$3,000 depending on their condition. Now trying to prove this gun saw use is a whole different story and most likely can not be done. The rifle was completely original and still retains almost all its blue coloring on the barrel. From a young age, Americans are exposed to so much from the major 19th century con, You don't have to be a historic re-enactor or a grizzled outdoorsman to have an appreciation for historic firearms. If well made, it was well regarded. USA.gov, The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration England became one of the Rebels' main arms dealers, with a number of small private gunmakers from around London and Birmingham supplying up to 350,000 Pattern 1853s. Explore this article. The rifled musket had a 39-inch barrel attached to a walnut stock by three barrel bands, leading it to be called an Enfield three band by some. Though there were several models of the Springfield rifle created during the conflict, the 1861 model was the most heavily used and the easiest Civil War rifle to find on the antiques market today. Some good pictures to go along with the article. There were only around 4,000 fluted cylinder Colts of this design produced, so that combined with its Confederate rarity boosted its price tag. Trying to remove nipples and they would not budge. Most of the time it was chopped up pieces of steel and newspaper wadding. When not at his press or the range he can be found chasing mule deer around the Rocky Mountains. Similar in design to the Enfield rifle, early Lorenz rifles were considered superb weapons right out of the factory, but they had a .54 caliber bore which could not accept the same bullets as the Springfield and Enfield. CAT. The relatively poor South only bought 50,000 by August 1862, while the North bought 726,000. The American Civil War still remains the deadliest conflict in our nation's history. This Enfield model 1853 was commonly used by both Union and Confederate infantry troops during the Civil War. (2008). [12] A South Carolina officer estimated that only one in every 400 shots fired resulted in a hit. As a result, cavalry came to be used mainly for raiding and scouting, and seldom participated in major battles. Even with this flaw, the Burnside went on to become the third most used carbine of the war, behind the Sharps and Spencer, seeing action in nearly every battle in the conflict. It was basically a Joslyn Carbine action fitted to a 1863 Springfield barrel and stock (though heavily modified). At the Battle of Gettysburg, the Union Army salvaged 24,000 rifles which were still loaded and found 18,000 of them had been loaded twice or more without being fired. To combat the arms shortage, the Union and Confederacy both imported large quantities of rifles from Europe, with each side buying whatever they could get. The American Revolution was foughtand wonwith guns, and the weapons have become ingrained in U.S. culture, but the invention of firearms started long before colonists ever settled .