Description
This exceptionally fine and seldom encountered pattern of the US Civil War Springfield Model 1863 Type I Rifle-Musket has a crisp spread wing eagle motif and “WHITNEY ARMS Co” stamped on the right side of the stock near the unmarked buttplate. The musket has a casehardened lock, hammer and trigger and “National Armory Bright” barrel and buttplate, in fine to excellent condition overall. As Norm Flayderman used to say, “will clean to EXC+.” It has the Type I screw fastened barrel bands and no band springs and retains the original ramrod. The lock is dated “1863” behind the hammer and has the eagle and shield motif and “U.S. / SPRINGFIELD” ahead of it. The barrel is dated “1863” on the top flat and stamped with a crisp “V/P/ eagle head” proof and inspection mark. The left side of the stock flat is stamped with a very strong oval script cartouche of “ESA” (E.S. Allin, the resident US Springfield arms inspector of the era). The Whitney eagle and shield trade mark and “WHITNEY ARMS CO.” are stamped on the right side of the stock just ahead of the unmarked original buttplate. Aside from the Whitney markings and lack of “U.S.” mark on the buttplate, the rifled musket is a standard Springfield Model 1863 Type I Rifle-Musket in near mint condition overall–the bore is like arsenal new. Noted historian and author Robert M. Reilly states in “United States Military Small Arms” that Whitney may have supplied stocks to the Springfield Armory from 1863-1864. Museum and investment grade.
