1855 IRON MOUNTED RIFLE

1855 Harpers Ferry Rifle

The 1855 rifle was produced from 1857 to 1861 only at Harpers Ferry Va.  Initial production rifles had brass furniture.  In 1859 the furniture was changed to iron.  A total production over 7000.  Many of the earlier brass mounted rifles were thought to have been Burned when Harpers ferry Arsenal was burned in April 1861.  Many of the iron mounted rifles were shipped to other federal arsenals or sent to states under the Militia act of 1808.   About 1500-1700 were sent to the states with New York getting 680, Georgia 120, North Carolina 311, Indianna 170, Massachusetts 100, Kentucky 80, Mississippi 212, District of Columbia 75, Virginia 50, and a few states received smaller numbers.  These rifles were issued with mobilization, and in a number of cases, rifles were issued to two companies in a regiment.  Usually when this happened, the rifles were issued to the two flank companies.  

This particular example has a deep brown patina on the metal.  The lock is dated 1859, and the barrel is dated 1859 as well.  The barrel has the V P over the eaglehead and rack numbers stamped on the top of the barrel between the date and the rear sight.  The rack number looks to be "B" over "18".  The metal has a deep brown patina with areas of pitting.  The Harpers Ferry on the lockplate is almost completely obscured, with only a letter or two visible.  The rifle has a untouched look about it.  It is all original.  Rear sight and ramrod are original. The primer mechanism is missing one of the two spring leafs.  The prawl is present. The rifling is visible and nice.  The stock is sound and complete.  I do not see a trace of the inspectors cartouche.  The spare nipple in the patch box is missing.  

This rifle has some interesting aspects.  With the rack numbers it suggests being issued to one of the flank companies.  They were usually companies A and B. These rifles were in great demand early in the war.