Requesting Information from Model 1855 Harpers Ferry Rifle Experts

[Southron Sr.]

I think that it is generally agreed that when the M1855 Rifle went into production at Harpers Ferry, they were brass mounted, had a Long Range Rear Sight and the barrels were browned.

A later version was manufactured that was iron mounted. My question is: Were any of the iron mounted M1855 Rifles every equipped with the Long Range Rear Sights like the brass mounted version of the rifle?

THANKS!!!

[John Holland]

Southron,

No, that is a myth. There were no Iron Mounted Harper's Ferry Rifles produced with the Type 1 long range ramp rear sights. The reason being that Harper's Ferry had several hundred Brass Mounted M-1855 Rifles sitting around without rear sights. They waited in vain for more long range ramp sights to be produced and were finally fitted with the new Model 1858 Rifle 3 leaf rear sight. From that point forward all versions of the Harper's Ferry 1855 Rifle were manufactured with the new Model 1858 rifle rear sight. The N-SSA is the only organization that recognizes 5 variants of the Harper's Ferry Model 1855 Rifle. These 5 variants are thanks to Paul Davies untiring efforts in researching archival records.

JDH

[Southron Sr.]

Thank You, John!