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, Confederate . Manufactured: Confederate Richmond Armory. Research Center: Weapon1600-Musket-Confederate . Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon1600-Musket-Confederate.html

Rifled percussion musket, short carbine, Confederate Richmond Armory, low hump, 1861, .58cal. . After the capture of Harpers Ferry, the Confederates salvaged all of the manufacturing equipment from the Federal armory, and moved it to Richmond. The dies used for the lockplates were from the Model 1855 musket which employed the Maynard priming system, now obsolete by the start of the Civil War. The Confederates continued to use the same dies leaving the hump but did not mill it for the primer system. This musket features the low hump, for some the top of the original high hump may have simply been milled to allow better clearance for the hammer, others a new die with the reduced hump was apparently produced. This short musket, with two bands was referred to as a carbine, it was designed to be used on horseback, although it was a muzzle loader like all of the other Richmond muskets. Manufactured: Confederate Richmond Armory. Marks: Barrel is marked vp over eagle, there was not a date on the barrel and the buttplate is not marked. Lockplate is marked 1861 behind the hammer and CS / RICHMOND VA in front. The flat bands are each marked U, the off-center U is a distinct Richmond mark. Model features: This short musket, with two bands was referred to as a carbine, it was designed to be used on horseback, although it was a muzzle loader like all of the other Richmond muskets. This carbine, produced in 1861, is very similar to the Federal Model 1861 muskets, it was designed as a single shot .58 cal. rifled muzzleloader, and featured 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 straight shank and threaded end, iron nose cap held in place with a rivet. The inside wood does have the groove cut for the Maynard primer, this indicates that this is early production utilizing captured stocks from Harpers Ferry, later examples utilized the mule foot. It is proper for some of the early produced Richmond carbines to have this feature, as noted in Paul Davies book on page 13. The barrel is milled to a T mortise, this was a Confederate innovation to better secure the rear sight. A rectangle cartouche may be found in the wood opposite the lock, it is usually weak. Research Center: Weapon1601-Musket-Confederate-Richmond-1861-v1 . Reference: Flayderman 10-050. Barrel length 25 inches. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon1601-Musket-Confederate-Richmond-1861-v1.html

Rifled percussion musket, Confederate Richmond Armory, high hump, 1862, .58cal. . After the capture of Harpers Ferry, the Confederates salvaged all of the manufacturing equipment from the Federal armory, and moved it to Richmond. The dies used for the lockplates were from the Model 1855 musket which employed the Maynard priming system, now obsolete by the start of the Civil War. The Confederates continued to use the same dies leaving the high hump but did not mill it for the primer system. Manufactured: Confederate Richmond Armory. Marks: Barrel is marked vp over eagle, there was not a date on the barrel and the buttplate is not marked. Lockplate is marked 1862 behind the hammer and CS / RICHMOND VA in front. The flat bands are each marked U, the off-center U is a distinct Richmond mark. Model features: This musket, produced in 1862, is very similar to the Federal Model 1861 muskets, it was designed as a single shot .58 cal. rifled muzzleloader, and featured 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 straight shank and threaded end, iron nose cap held in place with a screw. The flat bands are each marked U, the off-center U is a distinct Richmond mark. Wood inside the lockplate has been carved for a mule foot, this is Confederate carving and is distinct from the Harpers Ferry groove which was carved for the Maynard system. The barrel is milled to a T mortise, this was a Confederate innovation to better secure the rear sight. A rectangle cartouche may be found in the wood opposite the lock, it is usually weak. Research Center: Weapon1601-Musket-Confederate-Richmond-1862-v1 . Reference: Flayderman 10-052 Barrel length. 40in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon1601-Musket-Confederate-Richmond-1862-v1.html

Rifled percussion musket, short carbine, Confederate Richmond Armory, low hump, 1862, .58cal. . After the capture of Harpers Ferry, the Confederates salvaged all of the manufacturing equipment from the Federal armory, and moved it to Richmond. The dies used for the lockplates were from the Model 1855 musket which employed the Maynard priming system, now obsolete by the start of the Civil War. The Confederates continued to use the same dies leaving the hump but did not mill it for the primer system. This musket features the low hump, for some the top of the original high hump may have simply been milled to allow better clearance for the hammer, others a new die with the reduced hump was apparently produced. This short musket, with two bands was referred to as a carbine, it was designed to be used on horseback, although it was a muzzle loader like all of the other Richmond muskets. Manufactured: Confederate Richmond Armory. Marks: Barrel is marked vp over eagle, there was not a date on the barrel and the buttplate is not marked. Lockplate is marked 1862 behind the hammer and CS / RICHMOND VA in front. The flat bands are each marked U, the off-center U is a distinct Richmond mark. Model features: This carbine, produced in 1862, is very similar to the Federal Model 1861 muskets, it was designed as a single shot .58 cal. rifled muzzleloader, and featured 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 straight shank and threaded end, iron nose cap held in place with a rivet. The inside wood does have the groove cut for the Maynard primer, this indicates that this is early production utilizing captured stocks from Harpers Ferry, later examples utilized the mule foot. It is proper for some of the early produced Richmond carbines to have this feature, as noted in Paul Davies book on page 13. The barrel is milled to a T mortise, this was a Confederate innovation to better secure the rear sight. A rectangle cartouche may be found in the wood opposite the lock, it is usually weak. Research Center: Weapon1601-Musket-Confederate-Richmond-1862-v2 . Reference: Flayderman 10-050. Barrel length 25 inches. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon1601-Musket-Confederate-Richmond-1862-v2.html

Rifled percussion musket, Confederate Richmond Armory, low hump, 1863, .58cal. . After the capture of Harpers Ferry, the Confederates salvaged all of the manufacturing equipment from the Federal armory, and moved it to Richmond. The dies used for the lockplates were from the Model 1855 musket which employed the Maynard priming system, now obsolete by the start of the Civil War. The Confederates continued to use the same dies leaving the hump but did not mill it for the primer system. This musket features the low hump, for some the top of the original high hump may have simply been milled to allow better clearance for the hammer, others a new die with the reduced hump was apparently produced. Manufactured: Confederate Richmond Armory. Marks: Barrel is marked vp over eagle, there was not a date on the barrel and the buttplate is not marked. Lockplate is marked 1863 behind the hammer and CS / RICHMOND VA in front. The flat bands are each marked U, the off-center U is a distinct Richmond mark. Model features: This musket, produced in 1863, is very similar to the Federal Model 1861 muskets, it was designed as a single shot .58 cal. rifled muzzleloader, and featured brass 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 straight shank and threaded end, brass nose cap held in place with a rivet. Wood inside the lockplate has been carved for a mule foot, this is Confederate carving and is distinct from the Harpers Ferry groove which was carved for the Maynard system. The barrel is milled to a T mortise, this was a Confederate innovation to better secure the rear sight. Research Center: Weapon1601-Musket-Confederate-Richmond-1863-v3 . Reference: Flayderman 10-052 Barrel length. 40in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon1601-Musket-Confederate-Richmond-1863-v3.html

Rifled percussion musket, Confederate Richmond Armory, low hump, 1864, .58cal. . After the capture of Harpers Ferry, the Confederates salvaged all of the manufacturing equipment from the Federal armory, and moved it to Richmond. The dies used for the lockplates were from the Model 1855 musket which employed the Maynard priming system, now obsolete by the start of the Civil War. The Confederates continued to use the same dies leaving the hump but did not mill it for the primer system. This musket features the low hump, for some the top of the original high hump may have simply been milled to allow better clearance for the hammer, others a new die with the reduced hump was apparently produced. Manufactured: Confederate Richmond Armory. Marks: Barrel is marked vp over eagle, there was not a date on the barrel and the buttplate is not marked. Lockplate is marked 1864 behind the hammer and CS / RICHMOND in front. The flat bands are each marked U, the off-center U is a distinct Richmond mark. Model features: This musket, produced in 1864, is very similar to the Federal Model 1861 muskets, it was designed as a single shot .58 cal. rifled muzzleloader, and featured brass 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 straight shank and threaded end, iron nose cap held in place with a rivet. Wood inside the lockplate has been carved for a mule foot, this is Confederate carving and is distinct from the Harpers Ferry groove which was carved for the Maynard system. The barrel is milled to a T mortise, this was a Confederate innovation to better secure the rear sight. Research Center: Weapon1601-Musket-Confederate-Richmond-1864 . Reference: Flayderman 10-052 Barrel length. 40in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon1601-Musket-Confederate-Richmond-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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