B-Davis
07-01-2014, 09:01 AM
I am debating about building two rifles, and the first I am thinking about is a Type I or II Fayetteville. The second that I am looking at building is a Model 1855 Harpers Ferry.
I was on a site doing some research and the website has this picture posted with the description that follows. Long story short, the rifle has long range rear sights and the bore is .54 caliber. Is this right?!?
I am no expert on all the rifles made during the Civil War, so I am asking the experts, has anyone ever heard of a rifle like this, or is the caliber a misprint? Also, is there a variant of the 1855 rifle (not rifled-musket) that has the long range rear sight? I really am intrigued in this rifle, I just want to make sure it is not a misprint, or a parts gun mashed together. Any info would be appreciated!
Bryan Davis
http://relicman.com/weapons/imageweapon/W1220E_small.JPG (http://relicman.com/weapons/imageweapon/W1220E.JPG) http://relicman.com/weapons/imageweapon/W1220A_small.JPG
This early production of the model 1855 was produced for the .54 caliber minie and it employed the new Maynard paper priming system. The Model 1855 long-arm manufactured with two bands was referred to as a "percussion rifle", while the more or less same weapon but with three bands was a "percussion rifle - musket", both are muzzle loading "muskets" and by 1861, nearly all were three band and are often referred to simply as "muskets". The addition of the new Maynard feed system was thought to be an improvement over the earlier percussion nipple system in which caps had to be hand placed, however caps could still be manually placed, and as a practical matter the paper feed system did not work out, was simply abandoned, and by the time the next model was introduced in 1861, the Maynard system was eliminated entirely. Single shot .54 cal. rifled muzzleloader, brass buttplate, brass patchbox cover, patchbox drilled with two slots (unique to Harpers Ferry), "C" shaped hammer, bolster with clean out screw, early versions employed the long range site, brass trigger guard, two brass barrel bands are flat and held in place with springs, two strap hooks, nose cap is brass, lug placed on right side of barrel for a saber bayonet, ramrod is tulip head with bulge, end is threaded. Lock is marked "1858" behind the hammer, with eagle on the Maynard flap and "US / HARPERS FERRY" in front, manufactured by Harpers Ferry Armory, Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia). Barrel is marked "VP" over eagle head, and "1858". Buttplate is marked "US". Two bands each marked "U", strap hook on top band and trigger guard. Barrel length 33in.
Ref: Flayderman 9A-309.
I was on a site doing some research and the website has this picture posted with the description that follows. Long story short, the rifle has long range rear sights and the bore is .54 caliber. Is this right?!?
I am no expert on all the rifles made during the Civil War, so I am asking the experts, has anyone ever heard of a rifle like this, or is the caliber a misprint? Also, is there a variant of the 1855 rifle (not rifled-musket) that has the long range rear sight? I really am intrigued in this rifle, I just want to make sure it is not a misprint, or a parts gun mashed together. Any info would be appreciated!
Bryan Davis
http://relicman.com/weapons/imageweapon/W1220E_small.JPG (http://relicman.com/weapons/imageweapon/W1220E.JPG) http://relicman.com/weapons/imageweapon/W1220A_small.JPG
This early production of the model 1855 was produced for the .54 caliber minie and it employed the new Maynard paper priming system. The Model 1855 long-arm manufactured with two bands was referred to as a "percussion rifle", while the more or less same weapon but with three bands was a "percussion rifle - musket", both are muzzle loading "muskets" and by 1861, nearly all were three band and are often referred to simply as "muskets". The addition of the new Maynard feed system was thought to be an improvement over the earlier percussion nipple system in which caps had to be hand placed, however caps could still be manually placed, and as a practical matter the paper feed system did not work out, was simply abandoned, and by the time the next model was introduced in 1861, the Maynard system was eliminated entirely. Single shot .54 cal. rifled muzzleloader, brass buttplate, brass patchbox cover, patchbox drilled with two slots (unique to Harpers Ferry), "C" shaped hammer, bolster with clean out screw, early versions employed the long range site, brass trigger guard, two brass barrel bands are flat and held in place with springs, two strap hooks, nose cap is brass, lug placed on right side of barrel for a saber bayonet, ramrod is tulip head with bulge, end is threaded. Lock is marked "1858" behind the hammer, with eagle on the Maynard flap and "US / HARPERS FERRY" in front, manufactured by Harpers Ferry Armory, Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia). Barrel is marked "VP" over eagle head, and "1858". Buttplate is marked "US". Two bands each marked "U", strap hook on top band and trigger guard. Barrel length 33in.
Ref: Flayderman 9A-309.