- Joined
- Feb 20, 2005
Im thinking its post war field gathering of items to make one gun... would it fire who knows no expert
Then would anyone know of a good place to get started. I don't have much money to spend so I was preferably looking for something under 1,000$. I'm aware that if I'm looking to collect something that is usually pricey then I should've come with more money to spend but unfortunately that is not the case.
I would suggest that you google "civil war shows" and find out if there are any coming up within reasonable distance from you. Not only will you find a number of guns for sale, you will have a fun day out. But again, do your research. The Springfield Models 1861 and 1863 are good to start with, so research them specifically. There are honest, trustworthy dealers out there and there some who aren't, so you really need to know what to look for in a gun.Then would anyone know of a good place to get started. I don't have much money to spend so I was preferably looking for something under 1,000$. I'm aware that if I'm looking to collect something that is usually pricey then I should've come with more money to spend but unfortunately that is not the case.
Thanks for the info. Unfortunately shows are out of the option as I live in Puerto Rico and there's little to no collectors, so I have to relly almost exclusively to online purchases.I would suggest that you google "civil war shows" and find out if there are any coming up within reasonable distance from you. Not only will you find a number of guns for sale, you will have a fun day out. But again, do your research. The Springfield Models 1861 and 1863 are good to start with, so research them specifically. There are honest, trustworthy dealers out there and there some who aren't, so you really need to know what to look for in a gun.
Look at dealers on-line as well. Start with College Hill Arsenal.
Not only will you get a good variety of items for sale, they are all well researched and you will learn a lot just by reading about each gun. You won't find any junk on that site, and it is priced accordingly, but he is always helpful and good to work with.College Hill Arsenal
College HIll Arsenal provides access to high quality Militaria collectibles.collegehillarsenal.com
I have about 20 dealers whose sites I look at regularly. That's a good way to learn too. If you want, I can send you URL's for some of them by private message.
Others here, I'm sure will give you helpful advice. We all want you to do well on this.
Invest time before you invest money.
Looking at the lockplate, very hard to read, but it looks very much like a Colt Pattern special contract. They used a very similar hammer, and the bands had screws versus band springs.I have been looking to start collecting muskets and was looking for an cheaper American musket. I came across this 1863 Springfield musket, but I am aware that replicas of these exist. I was offered to buy this one, though I was tempted, I'd rather prefer to consult with a more knowledgeable crowd on the matterView attachment 333115View attachment 333116View attachment 333117View attachment 333118View attachment 333119View attachment 333120
Imagining a story about the piece in order to justify a purchase, is a very bad mistake. Confederates did cobble together pieces, but did so with the correct captured cannibalized parts and usually arsenal marked. This piece is not one of those. The piece in question, I am almost positive, is not a Confederate used piece, why, the Confederates late in the war used very corrosive caps. The piece in question shows zero evidence of burnout, extreme pitting etc. Most likely a surplus piece bought from Bannerman and used as a fowler, then played with at a later date, the stock has been sanded and the buttplate replaced, as it rested in a wet area on the butt. Just my opinion.Actually now that you mention it, the one offering it says it was purchased from a family in South Carolina. BTW thanks all for the good advice. They're asking around 400$ for it still on the fence about it. But the fact that it came from South Carolina strikes me as odd.
You are dead nuts on L G & Y.FWIW, I think the bulk of it is actually a Model 1861 Special by Lamson, Goodnow, & Yale. The shape of the buttstock, what there are of the lock markings, and the shape of the barrel bolster are all correct for this model. The hammer, and ramrod are incorrect replacements, as previously noted, and the rear sight is obviously missing. I'm not too sure about the front barrel band either, but, otherwise, it looks to me like it is all original. I don't know if is worth the money asked or not, I agree with the advice to get a nice one, but thought I would share that much. Here is a previous thread on one of these rifle-muskets that you can compare it to:
1861 Lamson, Goodnow & Yale Musket | Small Arms & Edged Weapons
Trying to determine if date on lock is 1863 or 1865. I have attached a photo for further clarification. Also have a question regarding the barrel. Is it original to the musket? Looks like a large gap, is this normal?civilwartalk.com
I thought as much. LG&Y, Amoskeag, Colt, they all made the 1861 Special Model.You are dead nuts on L G & Y.