Re: 1863 Remington Rifle, aka "Zouave"
John,
I seem to remember reading the contract as calling for "Harpers Ferry Rifles" without specifying a particular model. This allowed Remington to combine the better features of the 1841 and 1855 Harpers Ferry Rifles which turned into the "Zouave." Also I read that the folks in Liege wound up with a number of the Remingtons that they bored smooth for the African trade. These have a Liege proof on the barrel at the left of the rear sight on the two I have had my hands on over the years.
In the debate about their seeing any service during the war we may want to consider that by the time they were in govt hands they were a seriously non-standard item. By 63 the military was getting weary of the logistics of having quantities of non-standard infantry weapons in the field and was intent on standardizing with the Springfield Rifle Musket patterns and were receiving sufficient quantities of Springfield and contract made rifle muskets to satisfy the demand. No army likes having a complicated ammo supply and maintenance problem plus they want everybody to look as much alike as possible.
That's the impressions I have had from what I have read. I believe the "Zouave's" stayed in the crates until Bannerman got ahold of them.
Jim Brady
2249V
Knap's Battery
Jim Brady
2249V
Knap's Battery
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