Description
This graceful gem came out of an estate sale in the Shenandoah Valley about 30+ years ago and has been in the same collection since! It is a standard 1860 dated Harpers Ferry 2 band rifle just like the ones that remained at the arsenal when it was captured by Virginia forces. It has the long nose brass endcap and all parts are original to the weapon. Like many of the captured and repurposed weapons, this one’s iron buttplate is completely devoid of US markings. Many of these weapons were quickly assembled and issued with the bulk of parts and machinery being shipped to Fayetteville, NC, to manufacture the Fayetteville Rifle.
It is in superb original condition overall and has another oddity about it–it is a smoothbore! The weapon shows no traces of being rifled at any point in time and it may well be one of the few score that were issued to mounted and cavalry forces who preferred “buck and ball” in close quarters. Overall, this rare gem is about as nice overall as you will EVER find and a fine example of the weapons made in Virginia prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. It even retains the original spare percussion nipple in the patch box.
