how to identify civil war rifles

The rear sight on this one is very creative, since Leman removed the Austrian rear sight when he converted the weapons. The Confederacy also produced a variety of weapons itself, standardizing on .58 caliber in 1862. I have a Sharps New Model 1859 rifle barrel. 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. . I can't tell from the pictures if the barrels are Damascus or not. Typically, these rifles featured three metal bands along the long, narrow barrels with percussion cap mechanisms. 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. Conically-shaped with a hollow base, the Mini ball could be easily loaded but expanded upon firing to fit the rifling grooves. How John Roberts Saved the GOP (and Sparked Its Civil War) - Yahoo Check to see if it is still loaded. In April of 2018, a desirable Sharps Model 1853 slant breech percussion carbine sold for $12,650 at auction. The long gun eventually was approved for battle later in the war and made its first official appearance in the Battle of Gettysburg. The hammers look homemade and while it's probably old enough to have been used in the war it is very highly unlikely. The Sharps rifle was a falling block rifle that also used a unique pellet primer feed. Calibre .577, Cosmopolitan, rifled. This weapon gave the Union an advantage over the Confederate troops. The firearm was the most used carbine of the war and the most commonly carried by Union cavalry, with some 90,000 produced. A type of long-range ammunition, this is what people commonly think of as a "cannon ball". 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. 3. p. 26-27, Guelzo,A.C.(2012). But it took some doing to get the rifle variation into the hands of the 1st and 2nd Regiments of U.S. Sharpshooters. 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. Burnsides company went under and he sold his patent to Charles Jackson. A spectacular Civil War U.S. Burnside Fifth Model breech loading saddle ring carbine. The curved trajectory of the bullet also meant there was a gap over which the bullet flew: a rifle musket sighted to a range of 500 yards would send the bullet clear over the head of a mounted cavalryman standing at a distance of 250 yards. in Public History, Megan is fascinated by vintage & antique items. The black powder at the time quickly fouled the barrel, making reloading slower and more difficult. 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. Civil War Bullet Types - Pistol and Rifle Such a far-reaching war required a large collection of firearms which, in turn, relied on a vast collection of ammunition types. Come join the discussion about optics, hunting, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! Some such weapons included clones of the Sharps carbine, the Richmond/Fayetteville rifles (a Springfield clone) and imitations of Enfield rifles and musketoons. It was capable of firing three rounds a minute at an effective range of 500 yards but could be deadly at longer ranges. To get a better handle on exactly why this seminal war was as bloody as it was, here are the 8 Long Guns You Have to Know from the American Civil War. In that same auction, we had a selection of regular Burnside rifles sell from $2,300 to $4,025 depending on condition and provenance. associated with the Revolutionary War but are found on sites ranging from the first Spanish expeditions to the American Civil War. Engagements, however, generally happened at much closer range, making the 1861 all the more deadly. 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. During the American Civil War, the rifle was the most common weapon found on the battlefield. Others, especially those in later purchases, were described as horrible in both design and condition. This is a good price for a scarce and desirable gun. [20] Despite their extensive use by both sides in the war, soldiers' opinions on the rifle were decidedly negative. Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. That is definitely at the high end of the pricing spectrum. This musket has been identified as one having been purchased by the Confederacy due to chronic arms shortages throughout the conflict. Musket balls are one of the earliest forms of projectiles that were fired from muskets and rifles. To others, they were next to trash. Calibre .52 and Gwyn and Campbell carbine, Prussian Muskets (hand-written onto form), Austrian Muskets (hand-written onto form), This page was last edited on 25 April 2023, at 17:08. [12] A South Carolina officer estimated that only one in every 400 shots fired resulted in a hit. 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. 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. They acquired more through battlefield pickups and would use them throughout the war (although the 1855 rifle was eventually replaced in the Union ranks by 1861 Springfields). While both the Union and Confederate armies had their own standard weapons that they issued to the enlisted, soldiers would frequently bring their own supplies from home with them to the front lines. The military tried to work around this in various ways, but the Colt Revolving rifle was discontinued. Remove the ramrod, put the hammers on half cock, remove the key and lift the barrels up. Roberts was able to cordon off the extremists who were willing to upend the FDAand the entire drug regulatory processto remove the abortion pill from the marketplace. For questions or more information about our firearms or policies, call us at (877) 214-9327 or email info@collectorsfirearms.com . It is estimated that the Union armed 43 cavalry units with the gun. barrel allowed the use of .58 cal. [7][20][21], The Springfield Model 1855 was the first standard-issue rifle for the US Army to fire the Mini ball, with 60,000 having been built from 1856 to 1860 at both the Springfield and Harpers Ferry Armory. However, most American army officers in 1861 had been schooled in obsolete Napoleonic tactics, especially since many of them had served in the Mexican War, which was still fought in the old way with smoothbore muskets and linear formations. This rifle was mostly used by Confederate snipers. The first contract called for 5,000 Model 1861 caliber .36 revolvers at a cost of $12 each. The lowest selling went for $3,163 and was a civilian model. p. 249-250, Hess,E.J. In fact, antique gun collectors come in all shapes and sizes. Henry Rifle. These rifles were also equipped with a bayonet, and have the stereotypical silhouette associated with Civil War reenactments and big-budget Hollywood productions. Many of these poorer quality weapons were swapped out on the battlefield for Enfield rifle-muskets whenever one became available. Elwood Shelton is an online content developer for Gun Digest. The back action lock is European for the most part and even US made guns for the most part used imported locks. In the decades leading up to the Civil War, several advances helped make the rifle a more practical weapon for the average soldier. 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. If sending a check or money order, please mail, payable to: The History Store P.O. Be sure to keep an eye on our catalog so you dont miss out on your next chance to bid on the Civil War gun your collection needs. There are no markings on the shotgun whatsoever aside from some very faint decorative etchings and a couple of tally marks carved into the side of the wood. This is one of the most unique Civil War guns a collector can get their hands on considering its provenance and rarity. However, new research pegs it higher at 750,000, even 850,000. Get the 76th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. 1860. Sharps rifles of the Civil War era tend to be unique and more sought after Civil War rifle finds. In the few weeks between its formation and going into battle, for example, the 24th Michigan had one recorded instance of target practice, during which three men were wounded and one died of a heart attack. One of the most fascinating markings on the gun is carved initials in the stock of the gun. Inventors and military men devised new types of weapons, such . Sharps were the most highly desirable Civil War rifles and carbines for sharpshooters. [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. The new repeater rifles would see fairly limited use in the Civil War. The Civil War rifle became so popular that the Confederate forces copied the design and started producing their own versions of Sharps carbines. So there you have it, the top 7 most desirable Civil War guns for collectors and Civil War enthusiasts alike. The .52-calibers self-contained cartridges could be easily loaded on horseback, giving a mounted soldier a weapon that had an effective rate of fire of 8 to 10 shots a minute. These Gardiner rounds were similar to the Mini ball but filled with fulminate and a time fuse set to detonate one to three seconds after firing. And it might be one of the most unique long-gun designs of the war, and perhaps overall firearms history. This may not be a true Sharps, but the historically relevant and rare nature of a Confederate-made copy made this a popular item. By Katharine Houreld. Flag images indicative of country of origin and not necessarily primary operator. So, if you've caught the eye of an old looking rifle in your grandfather's shed in the backyard, take a minute to look it over and see what hidden treasures your family might've been hiding. There were only around 4,000 fluted cylinder Colts of this design produced, so that combined with its Confederate rarity boosted its price tag. The gun is 50" long and 36" from the . 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. [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. Western armies were slower to obtain Springfield rifles, and they were not widely used there until the middle of 1863. How to Identify Revolutionary War Musket Balls - Synonym Military leaders therefore preferred the faster loading smooth bore weapons over the more accurate rifles. The highest selling Colt Model 1860 revolver in May was a Confederate shipped fluted cylinder model and sold for $12,650. [2] see The Civil War rifle was the model that John Brown used in his raid of Harpers Ferry. Many unique Civil War revolvers and rifles can be found at Rock Island Auction Company. There was an article in a very recent edition of Man at Arms Collector magazine on shotgun use in the Civil War. To reflect this longer range, the Springfield was fitted with two flip up sights, one set for 300 yards (270m) and the other for 500. The Civil War gun was a breech loading falling block in .52 caliber and proved to have excellent accuracy and rapid-fire ability. Outstanding Civil War U.S. Springfield Model 1861 percussion rifle-musket dated 1862 with bayonet. There is a tiny 28 on the brass handle. Mini ball rifles - Various rifles were able to shoot mini balls, which created large, gaping wounds in the targets that they hit. How to classify and identify Civil War rifles like the Henry Repeater. 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. From the start of the war, the Colt Model 1860 Army took over as the hand gun primarily used by Union forces. Remington Revolvers In The Civil War | An Official Journal Of The NRA [10] However many officers preferred the machine-made Springfield musket over the handcrafted Enfield thanks to the interchangeability of their parts. During the American Civil War, there was a real transitory period happening within the firearms industry. If a soldier needed a firearm that had versatility and good repeating capability, it doesnt get much handier than this grapeshot revolver combo. The revolver was in in good condition retaining gray and brown patina and had character with a few dents and scratches. k.k. Guns like these did see use and were preferred by some. [18][20] Introduced in 1854 for the Austrian armed forces, the North imported 226,924 Lorenz rifles during the war while the South imported at least 100,000. If well made, it was well regarded. The Impossible Takes Longer Winter 1995, Vol. 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 Springfield Model 1861 was a common Union infantry rifle during the Battle of Antietam. Although the Colt was excellent in combat, it had a major design flaw. USA.gov, The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Prohibitive cost, however, stymied wider adoption. These rifles were used by both the United States of America ("Union") and the Confederate States of America. It had a rifled barrel, and fired the .58 caliber Mini ball. The Brunswick was a muzzle loader rifle that was manufactured for the British Army in the early 19th century. 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. 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. List of Civil War Rifles and Their Unique Features | LoveToKnow The markings identify the regiment, battalion or company, and the weapon within that unit. The speed and reliability of the Spencer is what made it stand above many of the other guns produced at the time. And the .44 round was relatively weaker compared to the dominant repeater of the time, the Spencer. 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. Went off and smoked up the shop, I have unloaded a few old doubles myself . This one was . 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. Typical appearing 1840's to 1860's/early 1870's double barrel muzzleloading shotgun. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. 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. The Henry repeating rifle can be considered the Rolls Royce of guns manufactured during the Civil War. The Spencer had an excellent reputation in combat, with a sustainable rate of fire of 20 rounds per minute. Soon, 14 Revolutionary War soldiers will finally rest in peace Civil War Firearms Home - HistoricalArms.com Rifle Musket. The most widely accepted figure estimates 620,000 men lost their lives in the four years of war. The relatively poor South only bought 50,000 by August 1862, while the North bought 726,000. There's a barrel key in the forearm. 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. 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. Her ancestors fought for both sides, however, the gun in question arrived to us through her late father who grew up in rural Mississippi (born 1940s) and moved to North Carolina in the 1970s. 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. There were many Southern editions, and at least one Northern edition that omitted Hardee's name from the title page. We buy, sell, identify, authenticate and appraise Antique Civil War and Confederate Firearms of all types, manufactured prior to 1866. Despite these improvements, the Springfields rate of fire was similar to a muskets, around three aimed shots per minute. A large number were bored out to .58 caliber so that they could use the same ammunition as the Springfield and Enfield rifle-muskets. 60th North Carolina Infantry Inscribed Rifle. Hi. Civil War Bullet Types - Pistol and Rifle - Civil War Timeline Its no wonder that even as Colt developed new revolver models during the war, like the 1861 Navy, that the Unions first choice was still the Model 1860. 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. Officially, less than 2,000 of the revolutionary, lever-action repeating rifles were procured by the Union. Hi. And it can still be found harvesting game today. More accurate firearms, able to be fired at a higher rate, combined with outdated military tactics to pulverize vast swaths of men in the blue and the gray. Nevertheless, the rifles were heavily imported with an estimated 350,000 making their way into the hands of both Union and Confederate soldiers. Case shot was an anti-personnel projectile, meaning it was used against soldiers. During the American Civil War, the rifle was the most common weapon found on the battlefield. The Civil War, an era in America history that changed the countrys future. The only breechloading rifle (not built as a carbine like the Burnside) firing a primed-metallic cartridge (a .50 cal. The first such weapon adopted by the US Army was the Model 1855 Colt Revolving Rifle (and a companion carbine), but it had a serious defect in that the gun would often discharge several chambers at once, the extra rounds flying straight into the hand that was holding the barrel up. This is most definitely a sporting arm and not a military arm. The 7 Most Sought-After Civil War Guns Command Big Money at Auction Even worse was the state of cavalry tactics. However, these old and obsolete weapons were replaced by newer weapons as they became available. The carbine was the third most used amongst forces during the war only trailing behind the Spencer and Sharps. The Union purchased 226,924 Lorenz rifles, and the Confederacy bought as many as 100,000.[3]. 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. Firearms - History Yes Sir, I unloaded one just the other day. But there were plenty of examples of poorly crafted Lorenzs, as historian Joseph Bilby has noted: The 125th Illinois was issued Austrian rifle-muskets in .58 caliber of which not over one-half were perfectmany will not explode a cap. The 125ths regimental historian complained that some of the Austrian guns nipples were not entirely drilled out, and some could not mount a bayonet without hammering it on. [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. 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. E. Remington & Sons on June 13, 1862, entered into two Army contracts. Serendipitously, Sir Whitworth found another market for his rifle at the outset of the American Civil War the Confederates. This allowed the projectile to expand upon firing and take hold of the rifling, and in turn stabilize and be truly accurate. Spencer rifles were the first successful repeater used in the United States. Behind the Sharps, it was the most used cavalry carbine of the war. Arms Identification Service - Identify Swords, Knives, Bayonets Small-caliber projectiles are among the most frequently-found artifacts at military sites. He is a gun owner and avid reloader from Colorado. Can anyone identify this firearm? Rock Island Auction Company has a wide variety of Civil War guns in our Premier and Regional Auctions. The rifles differed from each other mainly in the different "actions" they had. It is said Gen. Hiram Berdan had to circumvent his superiors and essentially appeal to President Lincoln himself to get the Sharps in play. ammunition used by both Union and Confederate armies. [8] A lack of training resulted not only in poor accuracy but in mishandling which could render the rifle useless. Captain James H. Burton improved the American Mini ball fired by the Springfield by hollowing the base of the soft-lead bullet. Almost all rifles were made with iron barrels, while only some, like the Burnside, used steel, which then was expensive. Most rifles of this era were muzzle loaded rifled muskets. Near the breech on the octagonal barrel is 78192, Length of the barrel please and I should be able to give you an answer. By entering this site you declare The Whitworth rifle featured a unique hexagonal shaped bullet (with a matching hexagonal barrel) that gave it superior accuracy. Now trying to prove this gun saw use is a whole different story and most likely can not be done. Used by both the Confederate and Union troops, the Sharps were often used as a sniper rifle. We auctioned off the beauty for $21,850. A Day in the Life # 68 How to Identify Your Civil War Bullets. At least two major battles in the Civil War, Gaines Mill and Gettysburg, saw such attempts, both with predictable results. Confederate General Braxton Braggs LeMat revolver realized an incredible $103,500 during Rock Island Auction Company's December 2021 Premier Firearms Auction. Most of the time it was chopped up pieces of steel and newspaper wadding. Bridesburg Model 1861. Manufactured in New Haven, Connecticut, these rifles have an iconic gold lever-action mechanism and blue finish. 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). It is assumed from official records that somewhere around 230,000 Spencer rifles were used in the second half of the war. The rifle potentially had another downside however. Another had identified it as Austrian: Muster 1842 k.k. 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. 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. you read and agreed to the, American Civil War Artifacts & Collectibles. These were usually clones of existing designs and tended to be poor quality due to shortages of raw material and skilled labor. Save my name and email to use for future comments. 10 Facts: Civil War Artillery | American Battlefield Trust 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. Extraordinary Civil War Era Sharps New Model 1863 percussion Saddle Ring carbine. The Springfield Armory produced the most popular rifle of the Civil War, the Springfield model 1861 musket rifle. These rifles, while more accurate than smoothbore muskets, had been designed for hunting, and fired less deadly smaller caliber ammunition. 7. Model 1855 rifles were fairly common. After experimenting with the failed Maynard primer system on the Model 1855 musket, the Model 1861 reverted to the more reliable percussion lock. Some good pictures to go along with the article. Learn how your comment data is processed. It MIGHT have been fired during the War - but was NOT a war weapon - it was used to hunt birds, rabbits and squirrels. The rifling also improved precision over traditional musket. In addition, most existing military doctrine was based around the smoothbore musket. [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.

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