Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War
	Civil War Weapons, all pre 1898
	by Harry Ridgeway

Rifled percussion musket, Model 1841, Harpers Ferry, .54cal. . Manufactured by Harpers Ferry Armory, Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia). Research Center: Weapon1301-Musket-Model-1841-Harpers-Ferry . Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon1301-Musket-Model-1841-Harpers-Ferry.html

Rifled percussion musket, Model 1841, Harpers Ferry, 1850, converted to .58 cal 1855 to 1860, .58cal. . The Model 1841 was the first rifled musket, it is a relatively heavy and short piece. It is often referred to as the Mississippi rifle, because of its use by Mississippi troops under command of Jefferson Davis during the Mexican War. Musket was designed as a single shot muzzleloader, manufactured from 1846 through 1855, modified in the late 1850's at the national armories, re-bored to .58 cal. Manufactured by Harpers Ferry Armory, Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia). Marks: Lock is marked HARPERS / FERRY / 1850 behind the hammer, with eagle head and US in front. Barrel is marked VP over eagle head, additional inspector mark, [date]. Brass buttplate is marked US. Cartouche in wood on left side indicates government inspection. Model features: Musket was designed as a single shot muzzleloader, brass buttplate, patchbox, and trigger guard, single brass band, brass nose cap serves as second band, strap hooks on trigger guard and nose cap. Modified in the late 1850's at the national armories, re-bored to .58 cal, the brass nose cap was shortened, single leaf long range rear sight was installed, all steel ramrod with trumpet head replaced the earlier brass tipped ramrod, lug installed on the side of the barrel for a saber bayonet. Research Center: Weapon1301-Musket-Model-1841-Harpers-Ferry-1850 . Reference: Flayderman 9A-284. Barrel length, 33in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon1301-Musket-Model-1841-Harpers-Ferry-1850.html

Rifled percussion musket, Model 1841, Harpers Ferry, 1851, .54cal. . The Model 1841 was the first rifled musket, it is a relatively heavy and short piece. It is often referred to as the Mississippi rifle, because of its use by Mississippi troops under command of Jefferson Davis during the Mexican War. Musket was designed as a single shot muzzleloader, manufactured from 1846 through 1855, originally designed to use the new elongated minie ball, .54cal. Manufactured by Harpers Ferry Armory, Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia). Marks: Lock is marked HARPERS / FERRY / 1852 behind the hammer, with eagle head and US in front. Barrel is marked VP over eagle head, an inspector mark, and [date]. Brass buttplate is not marked. Model features: Musket was designed as a single shot muzzleloader, brass buttplate, patchbox, and trigger guard, single brass band, brass nose cap serves as second band, strap hooks on trigger guard and nose cap, small fixed rear sight, barrel is thick and heavy and configured with 7 lands and grooves, ramrod is trumpet head with brass tip and threaded end. The circular cut inside the patchbox is unique to Harpers Ferry, as is the shape and grill on the hammer. Research Center: Weapon1301-Musket-Model-1841-Harpers-Ferry-1851 . Reference: Flayderman 9A-279. Barrel length, 33in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon1301-Musket-Model-1841-Harpers-Ferry-1851.html

Rifled percussion musket, Model 1841, Harpers Ferry, 1852, .54cal. . The Model 1841 was the first rifled musket, it is a relatively heavy and short piece. It is often referred to as the Mississippi rifle, because of its use by Mississippi troops under command of Jefferson Davis during the Mexican War. Musket was designed as a single shot muzzleloader, manufactured from 1846 through 1855, originally designed to use the new elongated minie ball, .54cal. Manufactured by Harpers Ferry Armory, Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia). Marks: Lock is marked HARPERS / FERRY / 1852 behind the hammer, with eagle head and US in front. Barrel is marked VP over eagle head, an inspector mark, and [date]. Brass buttplate is not marked. Model features: Musket was designed as a single shot muzzleloader, brass buttplate, patchbox, and trigger guard, single brass band, brass nose cap serves as second band, strap hooks on trigger guard and nose cap, small fixed rear sight, barrel is thick and heavy and configured with 7 lands and grooves, ramrod is trumpet head with brass tip and threaded end. The circular cut inside the patchbox is unique to Harpers Ferry, as is the shape and grill on the hammer. Research Center: Weapon1301-Musket-Model-1841-Harpers-Ferry-1852-v1 . Reference: Flayderman 9A-279. Barrel length, 33in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon1301-Musket-Model-1841-Harpers-Ferry-1852-v1.html

Rifled percussion musket, Model 1841, Harpers Ferry, 1852, converted to .58 cal 1855 to 1860, .58cal. . The Model 1841 was the first rifled musket, it is a relatively heavy and short piece. It is often referred to as the Mississippi rifle, because of its use by Mississippi troops under command of Jefferson Davis during the Mexican War. Musket was designed as a single shot muzzleloader, manufactured from 1846 through 1855, modified in the late 1850's at the national armories, re-bored to .58 cal. Manufactured by Harpers Ferry Armory, Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia). Marks: Lock is marked HARPERS / FERRY / 1852 behind the hammer, with eagle head and US in front. Barrel is marked VP over eagle head, additional inspector mark, [date]. Brass buttplate is marked US. Cartouche in wood on left side indicates government inspection. Model features: Musket was designed as a single shot muzzleloader, brass buttplate, patchbox, and trigger guard, single brass band, brass nose cap serves as second band, strap hooks on trigger guard and nose cap. Modified in the late 1850's at the national armories, re-bored to .58 cal, the brass nose cap was shortened, single leaf long range rear sight was installed, all steel ramrod with trumpet head replaced the earlier brass tipped ramrod, lug installed on the side of the barrel for a saber bayonet. Research Center: Weapon1301-Musket-Model-1841-Harpers-Ferry-1852-v2 . Reference: Flayderman 9A-284. Barrel length, 33in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon1301-Musket-Model-1841-Harpers-Ferry-1852-v2.html

Rifled percussion musket, Model 1841, Harpers Ferry, 1853, .54cal. . The Model 1841 was the first rifled musket, it is a relatively heavy and short piece. It is often referred to as the Mississippi rifle, because of its use by Mississippi troops under command of Jefferson Davis during the Mexican War. Musket was designed as a single shot muzzleloader, manufactured from 1846 through 1855, originally designed to use the new elongated minie ball, .54cal. Manufactured by Harpers Ferry Armory, Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia). Marks: Lock is marked HARPERS / FERRY / 1853 behind the hammer, with eagle head and US in front. Barrel is marked VP over eagle head, an inspector mark, and [date]. Brass buttplate is marked US. Cartouche in wood on left side indicates government inspection. Model features: Musket was designed as a single shot muzzleloader, brass buttplate, patchbox, and trigger guard, single brass band, brass nose cap serves as second band, strap hooks on trigger guard and nose cap, small fixed rear sight, barrel is thick and heavy and configured with 7 lands and grooves, ramrod is trumpet head with brass tip and threaded end. Research Center: Weapon1301-Musket-Model-1841-Harpers-Ferry-1853 . Reference: Flayderman 9A-279. Barrel length, 33in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon1301-Musket-Model-1841-Harpers-Ferry-1853.html

This is the "Ridgeway Civil War Research Center", a research tool for educational purposes only, and is provided at no cost to the reader. Some of the relics listed are retained in the author's collection, most reside in other collections and are not owned by the author. None of the items listed in this section are for sale, please refer to relicman.com sales listings for items offered for sale. This is a work in progress, I list items as I get to them, there are many patterns that are not listed yet, this list will be regularly updated as I get pictures and descriptions for more items. I will also correct mistakes, so if you see any please tell me. All items listed are believed to be authentic to the Civil War or as otherwise described. Any excavated relics have been recovered from private property with owners permission.This information is available for research purposes, pictures may be used by permission only.

All weapons listed on this webpage are strictly manufactured before 1898, and are considered unsafe for actual use. These are antique collectible weapons of the Civil War (most are pre 1865, unless I state otherwise) and actual firing of these weapons is not recommended for any purpose whatsoever! Because these are all "pre 1898" weapons, no licenses are required for ownership, but common sense and good judgment should be applied.

Most information on this page is from:
Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms......
John Thillman series, "Civil War Cavalry & Artillery Sabers...", or "Civil War Army Swords....".

Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War Weapons Research center, weapons, click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon0000-Index.html. Research center, weapons, click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon0000-Index.html.

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