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 1861, subcontract Bridesburg, with Model 1863 modifications, 1863, .58cal. . The Model 1861 was the primary musket at the start of the Civil War. Musket was designed as a single shot, rifled, muzzleloader utilizing the .58 cal. elongated minie ball. Springfield Armory supervised the manufacturing and distribution of the Model 1861 musket. In order to fulfill shortages, production was sub-contracted to a number of private manufacturers, Alfred Jenks & Son, Bridesburg, Pennsylvania, produced 98,464 muskets under the subcontract. By 1863, this contractor began to implement the model 1863 improvements. Manufactured by Alfred Jenks & Son, Bridesburg, Pennsylvania. Marks: Lock is marked 1863 behind the hammer, with eagle and US / BRIDESBURG in front. Barrel is marked VP over eagle head and (date). Buttplate is marked US. Three bands each marked U. Two cartouches in wood on left side indicate government inspection, additional inspector mark on barrel. Model features: Musket was configured as a single shot .58 cal. rifled muzzleloader featuring iron buttplate, the old design of C shape hammer was replaced with a contoured and beveled hammer, nipple bolster was milled flat eliminating the clean out screw, one leaf sight was utilized, iron trigger guard, three rounded barrel bands were fitted with tightening screws, barrel springs used in the Model 1861 were replaced with internal springs to secure the bands and the ramrod, two strap hooks installed on middle band and trigger guard, tulip head ramrod with threaded end and bulge was replaced with a straight shank, iron nose cap. Research Center: Weapon1522-Musket-Model-1861-Bridesburg-1863-v2 . Reference: Flayderman 9A-314. Barrel length. 40in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon1522-Musket-Model-1861-Bridesburg-1863-v2.html

W0768 ### Rifled percussion musket, Model 1861, subcontract Bridesburg, with Model 1863 modifications, 1863, .58cal. . The Model 1861 was the primary musket at the start of the Civil War. Musket was designed as a single shot, rifled, muzzleloader utilizing the .58 cal. elongated minie ball. Springfield Armory supervised the manufacturing and distribution of the Model 1861 musket. In order to fulfill shortages, production was sub-contracted to a number of private manufacturers, Alfred Jenks & Son, Bridesburg, Pennsylvania, produced 98,464 muskets under the subcontract. By 1863, this contractor began to implement the model 1863 improvements. Manufactured by Alfred Jenks & Son, Bridesburg, Pennsylvania. Marks: Lock is marked 1863 behind the hammer, with eagle and US / BRIDESBURG in front. Barrel is marked VP over eagle head and (date). Buttplate is marked US. Three bands each marked U. Two cartouches in wood on left side indicate government inspection, additional inspector mark on barrel. Model features: Musket was configured as a single shot .58 cal. rifled muzzleloader featuring iron buttplate, the old design of C shape hammer was replaced with a contoured and beveled hammer, nipple bolster was milled flat eliminating the clean out screw, one leaf sight was utilized, iron trigger guard, three rounded barrel bands were fitted with tightening screws, barrel springs used in the Model 1861 were replaced with internal springs to secure the bands and the ramrod, two strap hooks installed on middle band and trigger guard, tulip head ramrod with threaded end and bulge was replaced with a straight shank, iron nose cap. Research Center: Weapon1522-Musket-Model-1861-Bridesburg-1863-v2 . Reference: Flayderman 9A-314. Barrel length. 40in.

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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Civil War Relicman, Harry Ridgeway, Civil War weapons, Relicman sales catalog. Sale listings click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Relicman-Sales-Weapon0000.html. Sale listings click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Relicman-Sales-Weapon0000.html.