how to identify civil war rifles
But weaponry advancements also played a large role. Granville Stuart's Sharps Model 1874 Creedmoor No. The first Model 1861 Springfields were delivered late in that year and during 1862 gradually became the most common weapon carried by Union infantry in the eastern theater. The accuracy of the Whitworth was often exaggerated, but it was capable of hitting a man sized target beyond 1,000 yards. Mounted charges gave way to dismounted combat where men would tie up their horses and fight on foot. 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. 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 rifling also improved precision over traditional musket. After experimenting with the failed Maynard primer system on the Model 1855 musket, the Model 1861 reverted to the more reliable percussion lock. Sharps was without a doubt the finest produced and best functioning carbine of the war. 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). Almost all rifles were made with iron barrels, while only some, like the Burnside, used steel, which then was expensive. It was also a time of great technological change. Inventors and military men devised new types of weapons, such . In a conflict dominated by muzzleloaders and single-shot rifles, the Spencer Repeating Rifle had to have seemed like a godsend. For other collectable antique military firearms, take a look at our inventory of antique U.S. martial pistols and Civil War revolvers, foreign military surplus antique handguns, and foreign military antique long guns. The Perpetually Frozen North. United Kingdom:Yale University Press. The Whitworth rifle was designed by Sir Joseph Whitworth, and was manufactured in Manchester, England. More accurate firearms, able to be fired at a higher rate, combined with outdated military tactics to pulverize vast swaths of men in the blue and the gray. Learn how your comment data is processed. One of the most fascinating markings on the gun is carved initials in the stock of the gun. [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. I would guess the gun originated in Belgium. During 1863, Sharps was the carbine prominently used by Union soldiers. 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. There are numerous accounts of Union soldiers connecting shots from just shy of 1,000 yards with the revolutionary Sharps. On this Day in the Life, I describe some of the observations necessary to identify Civil War bullets. 7. 1863. A Colt Model 1860 Army revolver, shipped to New Orleans on April 9, 1861, only three days before the Confederates attacked Fort Sumter. It is close, but not quite right. It was second only to the Springfield model 1861 in popularity. Engagements, however, generally happened at much closer range, making the 1861 all the more deadly. This is one of the most unique Civil War guns a collector can get their hands on considering its provenance and rarity. Napoleon normally always tried to rout opposing armies from the field after softening their line with massed artillery barrages. Spencer rifles and carbines are highly desirable Civil War guns to military memorabilia collectors. The six shooter, single action black powder gun could do some damage to an opponent up to about 100 yards away. There are 5 main types of Civil War ordnance: Solid-shot. All rights reserved. Besides the Henry, no other long gun could provide a shooter with 7 rounds before having to reload. [17] Stockpiles of rifles and handguns carried by individual soldiers were limited. [15] Making the ammunition was also expensive, as each metallic cartridge could cost $2. Prohibitive cost, however, stymied wider adoption. The rifle showed gray patina and mild wear from use which is pretty astounding considering the age. 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. Case shot was an anti-personnel projectile, meaning it was used against soldiers. p. 109-110, Historical Dictionary of the U.S. Army. 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. As the war escalated those arms stockpiles were quickly diminished. As such, officers typically failed to realize the power of rifles and continued to launch massed attacks against fortified enemies, which invariably resulted in heavy losses. 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 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. United States:Dover Publications. When in flight however the cleaning components gave the impression of being exploding bullets. It is a nice looking shotgun as far as I can see. 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. Through the American Civil War, there was difficulty with arms manufacturing and keeping soldiers on both sides equipped with the most advanced weaponry of the time. Many British Enfield rifles but they were horrible on the troops hands and were regularly replaced with the Springfield rifles of fallen solders. In addition, most existing military doctrine was based around the smoothbore musket. 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. Back in our 2018 December Premiere Auction, RIAC sold a standard, good conditioned Springfield Model 1861 for $3,163. The Civil War was a time of great social and political upheaval. Sharps were the most highly desirable Civil War rifles and carbines for sharpshooters. Despite these improvements, the Springfields rate of fire was similar to a muskets, around three aimed shots per minute. The rare Confederate Le Mat revolver is another highly desirable Civil War gun. Flag images indicative of country of origin and not necessarily primary operator. In order to hit a target at distances beyond 100 yards, the firer had to carefully adjust their sights and accurately estimate the range, which could be difficult in the havoc of battle. Considered by many to be the premier Mini-style rifled musket of the day, the Pattern 1853 Enfield could readily outperform its counterparts on the battlefield. 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. Now trying to prove this gun saw use is a whole different story and most likely can not be done. The key may be pinned and not come all the way out. 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. The markings identify the regiment . k.k. 60th North Carolina Infantry Inscribed Rifle. We did not manufacture guns of this nature in the US. in Public History, Megan is fascinated by vintage & antique items. We authenticate and appraise Antique Civil War Guns. As the war escalated, those arms stockpiles were quickly diminished. Rifled muskets quickly became the standard weapon of modern armies of the period, including the United States, while some smoothbore muskets were converted into rifles. During the American Civil War, the rifle was the most common weapon found on the battlefield. The Napoleonic cavalry charge was thus made both obsolete and suicidal by rifles. A forum community dedicated to all firearm owners and enthusiasts. Although it had a .577 caliber bore it could use the same .58 caliber Mini ball as the Springfield. The Sharps rifle was a falling block rifle that also used a unique pellet primer feed. It is said Gen. Hiram Berdan had to circumvent his superiors and essentially appeal to President Lincoln himself to get the Sharps in play. To determine the height of the unidentified Civil War soldier, an employee of The Horse Soldier store in Gettysburg, Pa . What kind of French muskets? USA.gov, The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration April 28, 2023 at 6:36 a.m. EDT. 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. Perhaps the most intriguing feature of the Civil War gun is its .60 caliber, 18 gauge under shotgun barrel located right underneath its .42 barrel giving the user an addition shot. Rifles were more accurate than smooth bore muskets, and could have been made using shorter barrels. 2. 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. A family tintype of an ancestor holding the weapon in their uniform can give you some context as to whether the firearm was active during the 1860s, or is just a family heirloom. If it was manufactured between 1860-1864, chances are pretty high that it was used in some capacity in the war. Due to their history and extreme rarity, surviving Confederate revolvers are some of the most sought-after treasures in arms collecting today. Some were considered to be of the finest quality, and were sometimes praised as being superior to the Enfield. By the end of the war, approximately 1.5 million Springfield rifle muskets had been produced by the Springfield Armory and 20 subcontractors. This was highlighted by a changeover in shoulder-fired weapons from smoothbore firearms that had to be loaded through the muzzle each time a shot was fired to rifled-barrel firearms, some of which loaded at the breech. There was an article in a very recent edition of Man at Arms Collector magazine on shotgun use in the Civil War. There was also the Model 1859 Sharps rifle, a single-shot breechloader. . The Spencer carbine, on the other hand, was widely utilized, with around 90,000 being produced for the war effort. One of the things we used to do was collect up everything that came out of the barrels to see how and what they were loaded with. Known for its quality, accuracy, and reliability, the Enfield is one of the most sought after Civil War rifles today. In comparison to the Springfield's three rounds per minute, the Henry rifle could fire 28 rounds per minute. [7][8][9][10], Training could help overcome some of these difficulties but target practice was virtually unknown on either side of the Civil War. p. 1-3, Axelrod,A. The 130th Illinois reported that one-third or three-eights of these arms [Austrian] are defective.. Extremely rare LeMat percussion grape shot revolver. [8] A lack of training resulted not only in poor accuracy but in mishandling which could render the rifle useless. 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. 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. However, there are no greater rifles to collect than these popular models. This rifle was mostly used by Confederate snipers. Any identification marks are most likely on the bottom of the barrels, under the wood. It was a hollow shell filled with scraps . From the start of the war, the Colt Model 1860 Army took over as the hand gun primarily used by Union forces. Description: IDENTIFIED Civil War CONFEDERATE P1853 Musket. I must admit I have never seen a pair of hammers like those before. 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. 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. By Katharine Houreld. The US adopted the breechloading 1866 Springfield "Trapdoor" infantry rifle built from surplus rifle-musket parts after the war. Observe the Rifle's Silhouette. You can also buy research materials from one of our affiliates at our Books for . 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. If you can find serial numbers on your antique rifle, you can use digital collections like the Civil War Weapons Search to see if your gun's serial number correlates to a known date. [12] A South Carolina officer estimated that only one in every 400 shots fired resulted in a hit. One of the most popular items to collect from the annals of American history is Civil War rifles. I need help identifying a civil war uniform, Identifying Real/Replica Civil War Sword-Palmetto Armory, Need Help Identifying a Civil War Dress Sword. Beauregard, a Confederate Civil War general, the Le Mat was created in 1856 before the outbreak of the war. It was issued to disabled soldiers of the Veteran Reserve Corps very late in the war (April, 1865) and likely was never used in action. Military leaders therefore preferred the faster loading smooth bore weapons over the more accurate rifles. During the American Civil War, the rifle was the most common weapon found on the battlefield. During the American Civil War, an assortment of small arms found their way onto the battlefield. This rifle was invented in 1854 by Austrian lieutenant Joseph Lorenz. 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]. Disease in an era before antibiotics was the main culprit to these horrendous figures, more than 2 percent of the countrys population then. Others, especially those in later purchases, were described as horrible in both design and condition. Griffith,P.(2001). Even worse was the state of cavalry tactics. Calibre .577, Cosmopolitan, rifled. 27, No. Conically-shaped with a hollow base, the Mini ball could be easily loaded but expanded upon firing to fit the rifling grooves. 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. I HAVE I HEAVY BARREL TARGET RIFLE FROM THE CIVIL WAR. 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. The 9-pound, 40-inch-barreled Model 1861 was also a more reliable weapon than preceding military arms through the use of percussion caps. Many smooth bore muskets dating all the way back to the Springfield Model 1812 were brought out of storage for similar reasons. American soldiers liked it because its .577 cal. 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. Burnside Carbine. [19], The Springfield Model 1861 was considered the standard rifle musket of the Civil War. JavaScript is disabled. The Confederates made attempts to acquire these weapons, but they lacked the technological ability to reproduce them or their ammunition. 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 . I could clearly see the add of "eggs-10 cents a dozen.". The only breechloading rifle (not built as a carbine like the Burnside) firing a primed-metallic cartridge (a .50 cal. 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. 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. Many guns like this have " twist steel " barrels. And why not? The rifle itself was in well used condition showing age on the steel and patina in areas, but the significant story behind the model made it sell well. William Brooke Johns, Hidden in Plain Sight: Compiled Service Records as Sources for Confederate Arms and Equipment, Firearms Genealogy: The Impossible Takes Longer. With all due respect, the rear sight is the same as on the 1863 Springfield. This may not be a true Sharps, but the historically relevant and rare nature of a Confederate-made copy made this a popular item. Trying to remove nipples and they would not budge. [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. Rock Island Auction Company has a wide variety of Civil War guns in our Premier and Regional Auctions. The Lorenz was a bit like playing craps, if craps entailed being killed if the dice were faulty. At the same time, Northern rifle and gun manufacturers such as Sharps, Colt, Remington, and the Springfield Armory quickly increased their production of rifles;[18] Springfield alone increased its annual output from 20,000 to 200,000. 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). 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 .54-caliber turned out to be a boon for the Union cavalry, giving them a quick-to-reload firearm, built to withstand the trials of battle. Guns like these did see use and were preferred by some. I can't tell from the pictures if the barrels are Damascus or not. The Springfield Model 1861 was a common Union infantry rifle during the Battle of Antietam. Available May 2022. There were many Southern editions, and at least one Northern edition that omitted Hardee's name from the title page. Yet, Colt collectors are willing to pay even for these less functional firearms, with one recently selling at auction for $2,550. Listing of all rifles, carbines, and related long guns of the American Civil War. And it might be one of the most unique long-gun designs of the war, and perhaps overall firearms history. Model 1855 rifles were fairly common. [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. Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. If you are wanting to buy Antique Weapons or Curios & Relics, please visit our Online Store and view our items. for cover. When not at his press or the range he can be found chasing mule deer around the Rocky Mountains. The flintlock, which had been in use for almost two hundred years, had been replaced by the caplock in the 1840s. There is a tiny 28 on the brass handle. Most of these new rifle-muskets still had to be loaded between . My gut feeling is that when new it was at least a middle grade gun. This. One has been a longtime priority of the committee's chairman, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.): accelerating the delivery of about $19 billion in weapons Taiwan has already purchased. 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. The Lorenz rifle was originally .54 caliber. Near the breech on the octagonal barrel is 78192, Length of the barrel please and I should be able to give you an answer. In fact, something as simple as the Civil War hats that you c, Antique Flintlock Rifles: History, Identification & Values, Antique flintlock rifles, with their rifled barrels and simplistic construction, harken back to a time where accuracy wasn't a guarantee. Confederate General Braxton Braggs LeMat revolver realized an incredible $103,500 during Rock Island Auction Company's December 2021 Premier Firearms Auction. Available in Rock Island Auction Companys December Premier Auction is a 2nd Model Burnside Civil War carbine presented by Abraham Lincoln to Kentucky statesman John J. Crittenden. Click here for more information. In our 2019 May Premier Auction, we sold an excellent conditioned, beautifully casehardened and original blue preserved Spencer Model 1860 rifle for an astounding $48,875. Henry Rifle. 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. Where a domestically produced rifle would cost around $25, a cased Whitworth with 1,000 rounds of ammunition would cost a stunning $1,000. 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. Musket balls are one of the earliest forms of projectiles that were fired from muskets and rifles. 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 . United Kingdom:Greenwood Press. A type of long-range ammunition, this is what people commonly think of as a "cannon ball". 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. 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 . But unlike previous iterations of the musket, the bore was rifled, which allowed the Model 1861 and its ilk to take full advantage of a deadly new technology the Mini ball. It MIGHT have been fired during the War - but was NOT a war weapon - it was used to hunt birds, rabbits and squirrels. associated with the Revolutionary War but are found on sites ranging from the first Spanish expeditions to the American Civil War. Arms and Equipment of the Civil War. Typically, these rifles are sold for $1,000-$3,000 depending on their condition. United States:Lyons Press. [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. Burnsides company went under and he sold his patent to Charles Jackson. You might also find these guns with long metal ramrods that were used to insert the ammunition into the barrel.
