Model 1863 Percussion Contract Rifle 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. Harpers Ferry Model 1855 Rifle. 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 military 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 two folding blades. The right side of the barrel 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 in two lines ahead of the hammer. 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 sub-inspection stamp "R.K.A.". "U.S." is stamped on the heel of the buttplate. "U" is stamped on the right side of both barrel bands facing the muzzle. Single letter 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. Most of the 12,501 Remington Model 1863 Contract Rifles apparently were not issued and remain in very fine-excellent condition. The rifle is fitted with a Spanish-American War era leather sling.

Excellent plus. The rifle appears to be unissued and unfired and shows only storage and handling wear. The barrel and rear sight retain at least 98% of the original military blue finish. 99% plus of the vivid casehardened finish is present on the lock plate and hammer. The brass furniture has an attractive mustard yellow patina. The stock is in excellent plus condition with a few minor storage marks. The ordnance inspection marks on the left flat are extremely sharp. This is an exceptional example of a the last percussion rifle adopted by the Ordnance Department.