Trenton Model 1861 Contract rifle Musket

[Cannonman1]

Greetings all,
I have recently obtained a Trenton Contract rifle musket that is dated 1863 and surcharged with the NJ inspection stamp on the left flat of the barrel just above the wood as well as the oval NJ cartouche stamp on the wood. Question is.. it also has the #32 more crudely stamped on the top of the tang.. Looks like a "rack number" and assuming it is an "in the field" ID that was used in a particular unit for individual soldiers. Does anyone out there have another Trenton(hopefully ID'd, with stamped rack # .. This is a long shot I realize but you never know until you ask.

Thanks
Bill

[ms3635v]

It is probably a rack mark. I had an 1863 SNWTC Springfield that had "57" stamped on the tang and I believe it was a rack marking.