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 1863, Springfield . Manufactured by Springfield Armory, Springfield, Massachusetts. Research Center: Weapon1550-Musket-Model-1863-Springfield . Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon1550-Musket-Model-1863-Springfield.html

Rifled percussion musket, Model 1863 with internal band springs, (Type I), Springfield, 1863, .58cal. . The Model 1863 introduced improvements over the original Model 1861 rifle, most new features were copied from the English Enfields. The 1863 improvements are referred to as Type I by collectors. Musket was designed as a single shot, rifled, muzzleloader utilizing the .58 cal. elongated minie ball. Manufactured by Springfield Armory, Springfield, Massachusetts. Marks: Lock was marked 1863 behind the hammer, with eagle and US / SPRINGFIELD in front, flat bolster depicts an eagle, barrel was marked VP over eagle head and (date), buttplate was marked US, three bands each marked U, cartouche on wood on left side indicate government inspection. Model features: Musket was designed 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, two leaf sight was standard, 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. Performance was unsatisfactory because the bands too easily worked loose, so the design was discontinued after a relatively short period of use. Research Center: Weapon1551-Musket-Model-1863-Springfield-1863-v1 . Reference: Flayderman 9A-340. Barrel length. 40in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon1551-Musket-Model-1863-Springfield-1863-v1.html

Rifled percussion musket, Model 1863 with external band springs, (Type I transitional to Type II), Springfield, 1863, .58cal, . The Model 1863 introduced improvements over the original Model 1861 rifle, most new features were copied from the English Enfields. The 1863 improvements are referred to as Type I by collectors, and 1864 improvements asType II. This is a transitional model, featuring some Type I parts utilized in 1864 or vice versa. The parts were individually manufactured seperate from assembly. So if a part fit both models, it could be used. Musket was designed as a single shot, rifled, muzzleloader utilizing the .58 cal. elongated minie ball. Manufactured by Springfield Armory, Springfield, Massachusetts. Marks: Lock was marked 1864 behind the hammer, with eagle and US / SPRINGFIELD in front, flat bolster depicts an eagle, barrel was marked VP over eagle head and (date), buttplate marked US, three bands each marked U, cartouche on wood on left side indicate government inspection. Round barrel length 40in. Both lock and barrel are dated 1863, bands have springs which means this was early 1864 production using parts left from the 1863 run, or was early implementation of the 1864 changes at the end of the 1863 run, Model features: Musket was designed 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, single leaf sight replaced the earlier two leaf sight, iron trigger guard, three barrel bands were rounded, barrel springs initially eliminated in the Type Iwere returned to use in the Type II, however the internal ramrod spring was continued, two strap hooks were installed on middle band and trigger guard, the tulip head ramrod with threaded end and bulge was replaced with a straight shank, iron nose cap. This was the last muzzle loading musket produced as a primary military arm. Research Center: Weapon1551-Musket-Model-1863-Springfield-1863-v2 . Reference: Flayderman 9A-341. Barrel length. 40in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon1551-Musket-Model-1863-Springfield-1863-v2.html

Rifled percussion musket, Model 1863 with external band springs, (Type II), Springfield, 1864, .58cal, . The Model 1863 introduced improvements over the original Model 1861 rifle, and corrected deficiencies from the 1863 design. The 1864 improvements are referred to as Type II by collectors. Musket was designed as a single shot, rifled, muzzleloader utilizing the .58 cal. elongated minie ball. Manufactured by Springfield Armory, Springfield, Massachusetts. Marks: Lock was marked 1864 behind the hammer, with eagle and US / SPRINGFIELD in front, flat bolster depicts an eagle, barrel was marked VP over eagle head and (date), buttplate marked US, three bands each marked U, cartouche on wood on left side indicate government inspection. Model features: Musket was designed 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, single leaf sight replaced the earlier two leaf sight, iron trigger guard, three barrel bands were rounded, barrel springs initially eliminated in the Type Iwere returned to use in the Type II, however the internal ramrod spring was continued, two strap hooks were installed on middle band and trigger guard, the tulip head ramrod with threaded end and bulge was replaced with a straight shank, iron nose cap. This was the last muzzle loading musket produced as a primary military arm. Research Center: Weapon1551-Musket-Model-1863-Springfield-1864 . Reference: Flayderman 9A-341. Barrel length. 40in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon1551-Musket-Model-1863-Springfield-1864.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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