Kidnapped Harper Ferry M1855 Rifle from 1861 returns home North

Joined
May 1, 2015
Location
Upstate N.Y.
Permission to use photos obtained. New member of my HF M1855 family arriving in mid January. I believe this to have been part of the components captured in the April, 1861 raid on Harper's Ferry. No documentation, but anomalies line up with other points I have read or seen. First off both lock and barrel are dated 1861 which narrows the field. A relative small amount has been estimated around 420 in early 1861 that were complete in storage. There are no cartouches or any signs of their removal on the flat so not a completed one at that time . Parts have the proper proof and marking all through out the rifle. The patch box was never drilled for spare nipple nor included. The retaining washers on the lock bolts are different. The front being the expected steel, but the rear being brass as used in early M1855's. There appears even wear overall. I feel this was made as assembled by the Confederacy from the components captured. What thinks you?

CSA Assem. M1855 HF 1861 rifle  #B.jpg


CSA Assem. M1855 HF 1861 rifle  #C.jpg


CSA Assem. M1855 HF 1861 rifle  #D.jpg


CSA Assem. M1855 HF 1861 rifle  #F.jpg


CSA Assem. M1855 HF 1861 rifle  #G.jpg


CSA Assem. M1855 HF 1861 rifle  #H.jpg


CSA Assem. M1855 HF 1861 rifle  #J.jpg


CSA Assem. M1855 HF 1861 rifle  #M.jpg


CSA Assem. M1855 HF 1861 rifle  #N.jpg


CSA Assem. M1855 HF 1861 rifle  #O.jpg


Harpers Ferry M1855 Rifle 1861 Type6 Probable CSA Built  #20.jpg


Harpers Ferry M1855 Rifle 1861 Type6 Probable CSA Built  #22.jpg


Harpers Ferry M1855 Rifle 1861 Type6 Probable CSA Built  #16.jpg


Harpers Ferry M1855 Rifle 1861 Type6 Probable CSA Built  #17.jpg


CSA Assem. M1855 HF 1861 rifle  #K.jpg
 
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Very Nice. Lets see what the guru's have to say paging @Lanyard Puller and @Craig L Barry
I shared some photos with Tim Prince of College Hill Arsenal. He felt it a likely candidate as long as wear was constant through out, but could not say date as might have been assembled later instead of at HF. The photos show that it saw action.
 
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I shared some photos with Tim Prince of College Hill Arsenal. He felt it a likely candidate as long as wear was constant through out, but could not say date as might have been assembled later instead of at HF. The photos show that it saw action.
Beautiful musket there. Question; wouldn't it be unusual for it to have retained the Maynard mechanism whether it went north or south? Or would they have just left it intact and use musket caps if the tape wasn't available, which I assume would have been the case down south?
 
Beautiful musket there. Question; wouldn't it be unusual for it to have retained the Maynard mechanism whether it went north or south? Or would they have just left it intact and use musket caps if the tape wasn't available, which I assume would have been the case down south?
The 1855 series arms were designed either the percussion cap or primer tape. One manufactured there was no point in removing the primer system.
 
@JOHN42768 New member of my HF M1855 family arriving in mid January. I believe this to have been part of the components captured in the April, 1861 raid on Harper's Ferry.
Get it as fast as you can John :dance:. and Congratulations !! You're absolutely correct. Stonewall liberated, and Richmond assembled from the Harpers Ferry capture. Tim Prince {College Hill Arsenal} calls them "Post Abandonment" rifles. To lend some credibility to my excitement I'll post a few relevant photos of 2 of mine. The mixed parts are obvious.;
The best one first:
20201212_090059_resized (3).jpg

20201212_085632_resized (2).jpg

20201212_085717_resized (2).jpg

Mine has the iron and brass washers, as well.
20201212_090036_resized (2).jpg

If an early long brass nose cap worked, why not use it? Also the band.
20201212_085936_resized (2).jpg


The second one is a little less obvious, but both are very rare Confederate rifles.
20201212_090358_resized (2).jpg

20201212_090413_resized (2).jpg

20201212_090514_resized (2).jpg

20201212_090711_resized.jpg

20201212_090648_resized (2).jpg
 
Beautiful musket there. Question; wouldn't it be unusual for it to have retained the Maynard mechanism whether it went north or south? Or would they have just left it intact and use musket caps if the tape wasn't available, which I assume would have been the case down south?
I guess your question also has been answered. It might well have been left as Maynard. Thanks
 
Get it as fast as you can John :dance:. and Congratulations !! You're absolutely correct. Stonewall liberated, and Richmond assembled from the Harpers Ferry capture. Tim Prince {College Hill Arsenal} calls them "Post Abandonment" rifles. To lend some credibility to my excitement I'll post a few relevant photos of 2 of mine. The mixed parts are obvious.;
The best one first:
View attachment 384303
View attachment 384304
View attachment 384305
Mine has the iron and brass washers, as well.
View attachment 384306
If an early long brass nose cap worked, why not use it? Also the band.
View attachment 384311

The second one is a little less obvious, but both are very rare Confederate rifles.
View attachment 384315
View attachment 384316
View attachment 384317
View attachment 384318
View attachment 384319
Thanks, I see yours has the spare nipple and the lockplate is 1860 on one and 1861 on other. Looks like one of your barrel bands has the offset and one was original. attaching photos of both of mine centered.

Harpers Ferry M1855 Rifle 1861 Type6 Probable CSA Built  #18jpg.JPG


Harpers Ferry M1855 Rifle 1861 Type6 Probable CSA Built  #17.jpg
 
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Get it as fast as you can John :dance:. and Congratulations !! You're absolutely correct. Stonewall liberated, and Richmond assembled from the Harpers Ferry capture. Tim Prince {College Hill Arsenal} calls them "Post Abandonment" rifles. To lend some credibility to my excitement I'll post a few relevant photos of 2 of mine. The mixed parts are obvious.;
The best one first:
View attachment 384303
View attachment 384304
View attachment 384305
Mine has the iron and brass washers, as well.
View attachment 384306
If an early long brass nose cap worked, why not use it? Also the band.
View attachment 384311

The second one is a little less obvious, but both are very rare Confederate rifles.
View attachment 384315
View attachment 384316
View attachment 384317
View attachment 384318
View attachment 384319
Do you know if some were assembled while still in Harper's Ferry or was all shipped to Richmond? They must have dug deep in the parts drawers to find the brass washer.
 
Fortunately for collectors, the "parts list" of the train load of stuff liberated by Stonewall is re-printed in Murphy Vol III.

Also Paul Davies, "CS Armory Richmond" has details of the Harpers Ferry capture and parts removed and re-cycled into Richmond rifle muskets.
Should you want to return her to the sunny South, so as not to contaminate your Nawthern collection, just ship her down to S.C. to be amongst her old friends from H. F. :hug:
 
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