Approximately 900 of these unusual Confederate issued rifles and carbines were manufactured between 1862-1863 utilizing obsolete Hall rifles already in Virginia state inventory that were retrograde converted from breech loaders into muzzleloading arms by the firm of N.T. Read and John T. Watson out of Danville, Virginia, made on contract for the state of Virginia, per information found on pages 222-227 of "Confederate Carbines & Musketoons" (2002) by John M. Murphy and Howard Michael Madaus, and also in "Flayderman's Guide" (9th Edition, 10-025). This example offered is a first type conversion, using a shorter breech piece and thinner brass breech piece, whereas the second type conversions have a larger breech piece. Only a small amount of these are surviving today, as many saw hard use in the Civil War. This is the only known instance in which breech loading weapons were converted back into muzzleloaders on a large scale for military use. Features the standard Hall fittings and stock, an offset fixed blade front sight and fixed notch rear sight, and a rifled bore with a smooth section inside the muzzle end. "NWP" inspection initials on the upper left of the breech area. The consignor indicated this rifle was formerly part of Norm Flayderman's estate. Provenance: The Norm Flayderman Estate; Private Collection

Very good as Confederate issued, exhibits a mix of original brown finish and brown patina on the barrel and fittings with some patches of light pitting/oxidation, with a mix of golden aged patina and green verdigris on the brass breech piece. Stock is also very good with some scattered light scratches and dents, some scuffs around the forend, some chips and a filled in section visible around the rear of the upper tang, a small crack directly ahead of the lower right of the buttplate, and defined edges. Mechanically fine. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a Confederate Read & Watson rifle!