ED GOOD
11-24-2014, 05:03 PM
This appears to be a civil war era rifled musket that was assembled from battle field salvaged parts at the confederate arsenal and armory, located in richmond, virginia, during the civil war. The barrel is bored for the .58 caliber mini ball. It is 36 inches long and is unmarked, except for a star stamp. The ramrod looks like it was made for an earlier smooth bore musket. The lock plate was taken from a federal model 1861 springfield rifled musket. The hammer and bolster are from a later model federal musket. The front barrel band is stamped with the federal u mark. The rear band is unmarked and may be from a british pattern 1853 enfield rifle. Notice how the stock was originally made for barrel bands with keeper springs and how precisely the spring inlettings has been filled with matching stock wood. Most significant, is the star stamp that appears on the barrel at the left side of the breech. According to murphy and madaus, "confederate rifles and muskets", this star stamp was used as an inspectors mark at the richmond armory. See page 609 for reference to and photographs of a similar richmond assembled rifle, that is now in the springfield armory museum collection, reference catalog # spar 6127. Overall very good condition with a bright bore and sharp rifling...your input regarding other rifles with star stamp would be appreciated. $750. Email gded14@yahoo.com.