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 Providence Tool, 1864, .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, Providence Tool Co, Providence Rhode Island produced 70,000 muskets under the subcontract. Manufactured by Providence Tool Co, Providence Rhode Island. Marks: Lock is marked 1864 behind the hammer, with eagle over U graphic of eagle S and PROVIDENCE TOOL CO / PROVIDENCE R H in front. Barrel is marked VP over eagle head and (date), additional inspector stamping, W. Buttplate is marked US. Three bands each marked U. Two cartouches in wood on left side opposite the lock indicate government inspection. Model features: Musket was designed as a single shot .58 cal. rifled muzzleloader featuring iron buttplate, C shaped hammer, bolster with clean out screw, two leaf sight, iron trigger guard, three flat barrel bands held in place with springs, two strap hooks on middle band and trigger guard, tulip head ramrod with bulged shank and threaded end, iron nose cap. Research Center: Weapon1536-Musket-Model-1861-Providence-Tool-1864 . Reference: Flayderman 9A-326. Barrel length. 40in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon1536-Musket-Model-1861-Providence-Tool-1864.html

W0601 ### Rifled percussion musket, Model 1861, subcontract Providence Tool, 1864, .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, Providence Tool Co, Providence Rhode Island produced 70,000 muskets under the subcontract. Manufactured by Providence Tool Co, Providence Rhode Island. Marks: Lock is marked 1864 behind the hammer, with eagle over U graphic of eagle S and PROVIDENCE TOOL CO / PROVIDENCE R H in front. Barrel is marked VP over eagle head and (date), additional inspector stamping, W. Buttplate is marked US. Three bands each marked U. Two cartouches in wood on left side opposite the lock indicate government inspection. Model features: Musket was designed as a single shot .58 cal. rifled muzzleloader featuring iron buttplate, C shaped hammer, bolster with clean out screw, two leaf sight, iron trigger guard, three flat barrel bands held in place with springs, two strap hooks on middle band and trigger guard, tulip head ramrod with bulged shank and threaded end, iron nose cap. Research Center: Weapon1536-Musket-Model-1861-Providence-Tool-1864 . Reference: Flayderman 9A-326. Barrel length. 40in.

W1161 ### Rifled percussion musket, Model 1861, subcontract Providence Tool, 1864, .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, Providence Tool Co, Providence Rhode Island produced 70,000 muskets under the subcontract. Manufactured by Providence Tool Co, Providence Rhode Island. Marks: Lock is marked 1864 behind the hammer, with eagle over U graphic of eagle S and PROVIDENCE TOOL CO / PROVIDENCE R H in front. Barrel is marked VP over eagle head and (date), additional inspector stamping, W. Buttplate is marked US. Three bands each marked U. Two cartouches in wood on left side opposite the lock indicate government inspection. Model features: Musket was designed as a single shot .58 cal. rifled muzzleloader featuring iron buttplate, C shaped hammer, bolster with clean out screw, two leaf sight, iron trigger guard, three flat barrel bands held in place with springs, two strap hooks on middle band and trigger guard, tulip head ramrod with bulged shank and threaded end, iron nose cap. Research Center: Weapon1536-Musket-Model-1861-Providence-Tool-1864 . Reference: Flayderman 9A-326. 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.