"Short Neiss Rifle"

[Chapman's Battery]

I was reading Terry Lowry's 22nd Virginia Infantry. It stated that some of them were armed with "short neiss rifle". Can someone tell me more about this rifle. Is there a picture of it availible to see? Thanks Rick

[John Gross]

I can offer you a GUESS.

Many Prussian Potsdam muskets were made in Neisse and so marked on the lock (usually spelled Neisfe as was common back then to substitute an "f" for the second "s").

A Potsdam, however, is not "short", as the barrels are 41 1/4" long. So it's either a cutdown Potsdam or some other model of Prussian longarm.

John Gross