2 bander trenton rifle?

[mustangpalmer.58]

I picked this Trenton rifle up about a week ago. Someone soda blasted it and its cut down to 2 bander(war damage, capture, did Trenton make 2 banders?). Not much of a collector value but a shooter. Can anyone tell me any more detail than what little I can find online. The barrel and stock dont have the NJ markings re-barreled and stocked did only the rifles going to NJ units have those markings?

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/mustangpalmer91/Vacation%20to%20Nates%202013/IMAG1122_zps74a84195.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/mustangpalmer91/media/Vacation%20to%20Nates%202013/IMAG1122_zps74a84195.jpg.html)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/mustangpalmer91/Vacation%20to%20Nates%202013/IMAG1121_zpsa2e24e3a.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/mustangpalmer91/media/Vacation%20to%20Nates%202013/IMAG1121_zpsa2e24e3a.jpg.html)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/mustangpalmer91/Vacation%20to%20Nates%202013/IMAG1124_zpsb6393851.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/mustangpalmer91/media/Vacation%20to%20Nates%202013/IMAG1124_zpsb6393851.jpg.html)


Cant see them to great but there looks like saw marks on the barrel.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/mustangpalmer91/Vacation%20to%20Nates%202013/IMAG1123_zps5bafa787.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/mustangpalmer91/media/Vacation%20to%20Nates%202013/IMAG1123_zps5bafa787.jpg.html)

[John Holland]

Answers to your questions:

1 - "...war damage, capture..." No, not with the block & blade front sight.

2 - "...did Trenton make 2 banders?" No, the Trenton contract was for full length Model 1861 Rifle Muskets.

3 - "The barrel and stock don't have the NJ markings...did only the rifles going to NJ units have those markings?" You are correct, only New Jersey owned arms were marked with "N.J".

4 - Additional information: The Springfield Armory altered quite few Rifle Muskets into "Rifle" size muskets around 1871-2. Rifle size means that they were 45.25" OAL, stocks were 45.25" long, and the barrels were 33" long. The well known Bannerman's in NYC also altered thousands of these arms to 2 band size. Sometimes they copied the Springfield alterations, but they more commonly altered them to shorter lengths, with 32" barrels being the most common length. Because of the popularity of Military Academies in the post Civil War era many other businesses were also involved in alterations of Rifle Muskets into shorter sizes.

I hope this has helped you in your quest for information!

Sincerely,
John Holland