Manufactured by A.H. Waters Armory in Millbury Massachusetts from 1859 to the early 1860's with a total production of only about 1,500 U.S. and 3,000 for a Russian contract. This is a single shot percussion rifle with an under hammer bolt action mechanism. This quite unusual arm was patented by Lt. Col. J. Durrell Greene of the U.S. Army and is historically significant as the first bolt action firearm adopted by U.S. Ordnance. Nine hundred of them were purchased by the U.S. Ordnance Department and delivered in March of 1863 during the Civil War. This rifle was probably not one of them, it is absent of any inspector's marks. The upper tang is marked "GREENES PATENT / NOV. 17 1857.". The serial number is marked on the bottom of the bolt. The rifle features a fixed front sight, which doubles as the bayonet lug, and adjustable ski slope style rear sight graduated to 800 yards. Besides the unusual nature of the mechanism, the rifle features an oval bore. The finish is blue with a casehardened under hammer. Full straight grip stock with three barrel bands, sling swivels and a compartment in the butt which contains a cleaning brush that attaches to the ramrod. The ramrod is in the bright and has a trumpet type head. The bore appears to be smooth, however it has a type of rifling invented by London gun maker Charles Lancaster. It is complete with a bright 18 inch angular type bayonet marked "J.D.G." on the top ricasso.