This is an excellent original example of a U.S. Springfield Armory Model 1855 Rifled-Musket that was manufactured prior to the Civil War in 1858. The musket is finished ''National Armory Bright''. The lock is dated "1858" behind the hammer and marked "U.S./SPRINGFIELD" below the bolster. The tape primer compartment lid is stamped with the Springfield Eagle and Shield motif and the bolster has a cleanout screw. The top barrel flat at the breech is dated "1858" and the left rear flat is marked with the "V/P/eagle head" proof marks. Blade front sight and correct long range rear sight with folding leaf graduated to 800 yards and graduated from 1 to 4 on each side. Iron tulip head ramrod and mounted with a oil finished black walnut stock with a brass forend cap, correctly with no patch box, and two visible oval cartouches on the left flat. The buttplate tang is stamped "U.S.". Springfield Armory manufactured 47,115 Model 1855 Rifle-Muskets between 1857 and 1861. Most of these muskets were issued to the regular U.S. Army regiments and elite volunteer units at the start of the Civil War.

Extremely fine. The rifle shows the correct "Attic" condition and appears not to have been tampered with. The metal parts still show the original bright finish which has dulled with age with original dried grease along the edges of the barrel and the stock channel, around the barrel bands and the rear sight base. The wood is also in extremely fine condition showing only minor handling marks and scattered minor pressure dents from normal handling and storage. The stock cartouches are clear and visible with just some old pressure dents on the flat of the stock. The markings are sharp and clear. An exceptional example of a very desirable Civil War rifle.