Richmond Armory rifle-muskets with 1865 dated lock plates are extremely rare. In "Confederate Rifles & Muskets" by Murphy and Madus, the authors state that two 1865 dated Type III lock plates are known to exist and as of the date of publication (1996) no 1865-dated Richmond Armory rifles or rifle-muskets have been discovered. This rifle-musket is pictured on page 264 of "THE C.S .ARMORY RICHMOND" by Paul J. Davies and was formerly part of the extensive Frederick Goldbecker collection of Richmond-produced muskets.The Richmond Armory was established late in 1861 using machinery captured from the U.S. Arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. The Armory continued to operate until February 1865 when lack of gun stocks halted production. A total of 362 rifle-muskets were manufactured by the Richmond Armory in 1865. The Richmond Armory produced more longarms than all other Confederate manufacturers. These rifle-muskets followed the general configuration of the U.S. Model 1861 rifle-musket and had a distinctive 'humpback' lock plate. The Type III rifle- muskets had a distinctive humpback lock plate with a lower profile than earlier lockplates. Manufactured from 1862 to the end of production in February 1865, Type III rifle-muskets were entirely of Confederate manufacture. The lock plate is marked "CS/RICHMOND VA" in two lines ahead of the hammer and dated "1865" vertically behind the hammer. The "I" in "RICHMOND" is, correctly missing the serif on the lower left side. The top of the barrel is dated "1864" in front of the tang and stamped with "V/P/Eagle Head" proof and inspection marks on the left flat. The barrel is secured by three flat spring fastened bands and has an iron block-mounted front sight, which doubles as a bayonet lug and a rear sight with two folding leaves. Mounted with a full walnut straight grip stock with crude period inscribed "HC" on the buttplate tang. Complete with an original straight shank iron tulip head ramrod.

Good.The barrel has a gray-brown patina with heavy flash pitting on the bolster, percussion nipple and adjacent portions of the barrel. . The lock plate and hammer have a dark patina and are lightly pitted. The brass buttplate and forearm cap have an untouched natural age patina. The stock is very good with moderate handling wear and a coat of protective varnish applied. There is an old repaired minor crack in front of the lock plate. The barrel date and proof marks are light but legible and the lock markings are fully legible. The action is very good. This is a good original example of the scarcest of all the very desirable Richmond Armory produced rifle-muskets in typical well-used condition of a Confederate small arm.