Standard Catalog of Civil War Firearms. John F. Graf
C. D. Schubarth & Co. (Caspar D. Schubarth, James M. Ryder, and Frederick Griffin) produced Model 1861 rifle-muskets under contracts of October 11 and November 1, 1861, with deliveries between December 19, 1862, and October 14, 1863. All parts of the rifle-muskets were manufactured by subcontractors (including 3,000 locks made by Alfred Jenks), with assembly taking place at the Schubarth factory.
| GOOD–$1,000 | FINE–$3,000 |
U.S. MODEL 1861 RIFLE-MUSKET, “SUHL” CONTACT, .58 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Manufactured by Christoph Funk Gewehrfabrik, Suhl, Germany, ca. 1861. Total production: several hundred.
Overall length: 56". Weight: 9 lbs. 2 oz.
Muzzleloader, single shot.
“US” or “U.S.” toward front of lock plate; spread eagle at center of lock plate; “1861” toward rear of lock plate; “U” and serial number on barrel bands; “G” within a diamond and “SUHL” or “CH FUNK / SUHL” on some barrel bottoms (other barrel bottoms lack markings).
In 1861 the Christoph Funk Gewehrfabrik of Suhl, Germany, produced several hundred Model 1861 rifle-muskets for export to the United States. The weapons were similar to the standard U.S. Model 1861 arm, with variations in certain details, including a maple stock instead of walnut. It is possible that these arms were among the almost 500 Springfield-type muskets imported by William Hahn of New York City in 1862.
| GOOD–$1,500 | FINE–$5,000 |
U.S. MODEL 1861 RIFLE-MUSKET, “TRENTON” (OR BURTAND HODGE) CONTACT, .58 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Manufactured by Addison M. Burt and James T. Hodge, Springfield, Massachusetts, ca. 1862–64. Total production: 21,995 (11,495 by Burt and 10,500 by Hodge).
Overall length: 56". Weight: 9 lbs. 2 oz.
Muzzleloader, single shot.
“U.S. / TRENTON” below bolster cutout on lock plate; spread eagle at center of plate; year to rear of lock plate; “A. M. BURT” or “J. T. HODGE” stamped on flat of stock opposite the lock on some examples.
Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc.
After receiving separate contracts on December 26, 1861, to produce Model 1861 rifle-muskets, Addison M. Burt and James T. Hodge collaborated in manufacturing the arms without entering into a formal partnership. Leasing the Trenton Locomotive and Machine Company in January 1862, they produced a combined total of 21,995 rifle-muskets, considerably less than the total of 100,000 arms they originally contracted for.
| GOOD–$900 | FINE–$2,750 |
U.S. MODEL 1861 RIFLE-MUSKET, UNION ARMS CO. CONTACT, .58 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
James D. Julia Auctioneers, Fairfield, Maine
Manufactured by Union Arms Co., New York City, ca. 1862–63. Total production: probably fewer than 300.
Overall length: 56". Weight: 9 lbs. 2 oz.
Muzzleloader, single shot.
“U.A.CO. / NEW YORK” below bolster cutout of lock plate; spread eagle over “U.S.” at center of lock plate; “1863” toward rear of lock plate.
The U.S. government issued three contracts totaling 65,000 Model 1861 rifle-muskets to the Union Arms Company between August and November 1861. However, apparently the company produced fewer than 300 stands, and there is evidence that the State of New York, instead of the U.S. Ordnance Department, received these arms.
| GOOD–$1,500 | FINE–$4,500 |
U.S. MODEL 1861 RIFLE-MUSKET, “WATERTOWN” (OR, HOARD) CONTACT, .58 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Manufactured by Charles B. Hoard, Watertown, New York, ca. 1862–65. Total production: 12,800.
Overall length: 56". Weight: 9 lbs. 2 oz.
Muzzleloader, single shot.
“U.S. / WATERTOWN” below bolster cutout of lock plate; spread eagle at center of plate; year toward rear of lock plate.
Charles B. Hoard converted his steam-engine factory in Watertown, New York, into an armory for manufacturing Model 1861 rifle-muskets under contracts of December 24, 1861 (50,000 stands), and December 1, 1863 (20,000 stands). In all, Hoard delivered 12,800. Except for a number of early-production specimens that included a small quantity of parts furnished by subcontractors, these rifle-muskets were entirely manufactured by Hoard.
| GOOD–$900 | FINE–$2,750 |
U.S. MODEL 1861 RIFLE-MUSKET, WHITNEY, U.S. CONTACT, .58 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc.
Manufactured by Eli Whitney, Jr., Whitneyville Armory, New Haven, Connecticut, 1863–65. Total production: 15,001.
Overall length: 56". Weight: 9 lbs. 2 oz.
Muzzleloader, single shot.
“WHITNEY-VILLE” in italics below bolster cutout on lock plate; spread eagle over “U.S.” at center of lock plate; “1863” or “1864” stamped vertically toward rear of lock plate; “U.S.” stamped on butt plate; inspector’s initials such as “FCW”, “HW”, and “JHG” on flat of stock opposite lock. Markings on the barrel: “V-P” over eagle head proof mark; “FCW”, “JHG”, or “W”; and “1863” or “1864”.
After failing to fulfill a contract of December 24, 1861, to supply the U.S. government with 40,000 Model 1861 rifle-muskets, the Whitneyville Armory completed a second contract dated October 17, 1863, by delivering 15,001 of the rifle-muskets between October 20, 1863, and March 1, 1865. Whitney’s U.S. contract rifle-muskets featured three-groove rifling.
| GOOD–$1,250 | FINE–$3,500 |
U.S. MODEL 1861 RIFLE-MUSKET, WHITNEY, FLUSH LOCK PLATE, .58 CALIBER, PAPER CARTRIDGE, PERCUSSION
Manufactured by Eli Whitney, Jr., Whitneyville Armory, New Haven, Connecticut, ca. 1863. Total production: probably under 100.
Overall length: 56". Weight: 9 lbs. 2 oz.
Muzzleloader, single shot.
Large spread eagle and U.S. flag over “WHITNEYVILLE” at center of non-beveled lock plate; “1863” vertically near rear of lock