Manufactured by the Remington Arms Co. in 1863. Referred to by collectors as the "Zouave" rifle, the Model 1863 Contract Rifle was an improved version of the U.S. Model 1855 Rifle manufactured by the U.S. Harpers Ferry Arsenal. The Model 1863 Rifle was referred to in official documents as the "Harpers Ferry Pattern" rifle. The Model 1863 Rifle has the distinction of being the last percussion rifle adopted by the Ordnance Department and is generally considered to be the highest quality and best designed percussion military longarm. The barrel has a deep blue finish. The hammer and lock are casehardened. The screws and band springs have a niter blue finish. The forend cap, barrel bands, trigger guard, patch box and buttplate are brass. The stock is oil finished black walnut. The rifle has a heavy round barrel with wide base iron front sight and 1855 style rear sight with three folding blades. The right side of the muzzle has a lug for a saber bayonet. The bright finished straight shank tulip head ramrod is secured by a spring in the stock. The brass patch box is similar to the style used on the Model 1855 rifle and contains a spare percussion nipple. The lock plate is dated "1863" behind the hammer and roll stamped with the Federal Eagle and Shield motif above "U.S." "REMINGTON'S/ILLION N.Y" is roll-stamped ahead of the eagle motif. The top of the barrel is stamped with the date "1863". The "Eagle-head/P/V" acceptance proof and inspection marks are stamped to the left of the date. The left barrel flat is stamped "STEEL" followed by the Ordnance inspection stamp "H.S.L". "U.S." is stamped on the heel of the buttplate. "U" is stamped on the right side of both barrel bands facing the muzzle. "L" or "C" Ordnance sub-inspection marks are stamped on all of the brass furniture and the lock plate. The left stock flat is stamped with the Ordnance sub-inspection and final inspection marks. The upper mark consists of the script initials "HDJ" (Henry D. Jennings) in a rectangle and the lower mark has the initials "BH" (Benjamin Hannis) with a rectangular border. The rifle is complete with the original sword bayonet and scabbard. The bayonet has a bright finished 20 inch fluted blade and cast brass grip with down-turned quillion. "C" Ordnance sub-inspection marks are stamped on the grip and quillion. The scabbard has a black leather body with brass tip and throat and round brass frog stud.

Near new. The rifle is in unfired, as issued condition and shows only minor storage wear. The barrel, rear sight and trigger retain nearly all of the original blue finish. The exceptionally attractive case colors on the hammer and lock plate are vivid and nearly all intact. The screw heads retain most of the fire blue finish. The brass furniture has not been polished and has a good looking age patina. The stock is excellent plus with untouched feathered grain. Wear is limited to a few minor storage marks. The Ordnance proof and inspection marks on the barrel, stock and other components are sharp. The bayonet has nearly all of the original polish on the blade and is excellent. The black leather scabbard body has no flaking or stress marks and the stitching is tight. The cast brass bayonet grip and the brass scabbard tip and throat are in excellent condition with an attractive patina. This is an exceptional example of a Remington "Zouave" percussion rifle in nearly new condition.