Standard Catalog of Civil War Firearms. John F. Graf
CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Presumed manufactured by A. H. Waters, Milbury [sic], Massachusetts, 1861–62. Total production: unknown.
Overall length: 56". Weight: 9 lbs. 2 oz.
Muzzleloader, single shot.
“U.S. / MILLBURY” below bolster cutout on lock plate; spread eagle (rearward facing) at center of lock plate; year at rear of lock plate.
It is uncertain who manufactured examples of the U.S. Model 1861 Rifle-Musket marked “MILLBURY,” but it is assumed these were the products of A. H. Waters and Company of Milbury, Massachusetts. The unusual rear-facing eagle is similar to the eagle stamped on U.S. Model 1842 muskets produced under contract by Benjamin Flagg, who after the death of Asa Waters, Jr., became the superintendent of the Waters factory.
| GOOD–$1,200 | FINE–$3,250 |
U.S. MODEL 1861 RIFLE-MUSKET, JAMES D. MOWRY CONTRACT, .58 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Manufactured by James D. Mowry, Norwich, Connecticut, 1861–64. Total production: 22,000.
Overall length: 56". Weight: 9 lbs. 2 oz.
Muzzleloader, single shot.
“U.S. / JAS D. MOWRY / NORWICH, CONN.” below bolster cutout in lock plate; spread eagle at center of lock plate; year at rear of lock plate.
James D. Mowry Contract U.S. Model 1861 Rifle-Muskets were assembled from a mix of Mowry’s own parts and those acquired from subcontractors.
| GOOD–$900 | FINE–$2,750 |
U.S. MODEL 1861 RIFLE-MUSKET, MUIR CONTRACT, .58 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Manufactured by William Muir and Company, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, ca. 1861–64. Total production: 30,000.
Overall length: 56". Weight: 9 lbs. 2 oz.
Muzzleloader, single shot.
“WM MUIR & CO. / WINDSOR LOCKS, CT.” below bolster cutout on lock plate; spread eagle over “U.S.” at center of lock plate; year at rear of lock plate.
The Muir Contract Model 1861 rifle-muskets were assembled from parts mostly obtained from subcontractors. A large number of the arms were substandard, and the government accepted those units at a discount of almost 25 percent. Muir made deliveries between January 22, 1863, and November 3, 1864.
| GOOD–$900 | FINE–$2,750 |
U.S. MODEL 1861 RIFLE-MUSKET, NORRIS & CLEMENT CONTACT, .58 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Manufactured by S. Norris & W. T. Clement, Springfield, Massachusetts, ca. 1863–64. Total production: approximately 11,000 (?).
Overall length: 56". Weight: 9 lbs. 2 oz.
Muzzleloader, single shot.
“S.N. & W.T.C. / FOR / MASSACHUSETTS” below bolster cutout on lock plate; spread eagle over “U.S.”at center of lock plate; year toward rear of lock plate.
In 1863 and 1864, Samuel Norris and W. T. Clement fulfilled two or more contracts for Model 1861 rifle-muskets. An 1864 Massachusetts Adjutant General’s report noted that the state had purchased 11,000 “Springfield Rifle Muskets & Appendages” from Norris & Clement, but this number may have included a mix of Model 1861 and Model 1863 rifle-muskets.
| GOOD–$900 | FINE–$2,750 |
U.S. MODEL 1861 RIFLE-MUSKET, “PARKER’S SNOW & CO.” (JAMES MULHOLLAND CONTRACT AND PARKER, SNOW & CO. CONTRACT), .58 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc.
Manufactured by Parker, Snow & Company, Meriden, Connecticut, ca. 1863–64. Total production: 5,502, Mulholland Contract; 15,000, Parker, Snow & Co. Contract.
Overall length: 56". Weight: 9 lbs. 2 oz.
Muzzleloader, single shot.
“PARKERS’ SNOW & CO. / MERIDEN, CONN.” stamped on lock plate below bolster cutout; spread eagle over “U.S.” at center of lock plate; year toward rear of lock plate (“1863” probably Mulholland Contract; “1864” Parker, Snow & Co. Contract).
Documentary evidence indicates that specimens of this contract rifle-musket dated 1863 were most likely manufactured for James Mulholland of Reading, Pennsylvania, under a subcontract by Parker, Snow, Brooks & Co. (later, Parker, Snow & Co.) of Meriden, Connecticut. Mulholland delivered 5,502 of these arms to the U.S. government between July 7 and October 31, 1863.
In November 1864, Parker, Snow & Co. completed delivery of 15,000 Model 1861 rifle-muskets to the U.S. government under the firm’s own contract of September 28, 1863.
| GOOD–$900 | FINE–$2,750 |
U.S. MODEL 1861 RIFLE-MUSKET, “NORFOLK” MODEL (WELCH, BROWN & CO. CONTRACT), .58 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Manufactured by Welch, Brown and Company, Norfolk, Connecticut, ca. 1861–64. Total production: 16,000.
Rock Island Auction Company
Overall length: 56". Weight: 9 lbs. 2 oz.
Muzzleloader, single shot.
“U.S. / NORFOLK” below bolster cutout on lock plate; spread eagle at center of lock plate; year to rear of lock plate.
Welch, Brown and Company contracted to produce 18,000 Model 1861 rifle-muskets in November 1861, but delivered only 16,000 units, from September 1862 to December 1863. The government accepted only 2,940 of these as up to standard, purchasing the balance at discount.
| GOOD–$900 | FINE–$2,750 |
U.S. MODEL 1861 RIFLE-MUSKET, NORWICH ARMS CO. CONTRACT, .58 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Manufactured by Norwich Arms Company, Norwich, Connecticut, ca. 1863–64. Total production: 25,000.
James D. Julia Auctioneers, Fairfield, Maine
Overall length: 56". Weight: 9 lbs. 2 oz.
Muzzleloader, single shot.
“U.S. / NORWICH” on lock plate below bolster cutout; spread eagle at center of lock plate; year at rear of lock plate.
Norwich Arms