Model 1861 Special Rifle-Musket manufactured by Colt circa 1863. The Model 1861 Special Rifle-Musket was a simplified version of the Springfield Model 1861 Rifle-Musket. It featured a distinctively shaped hammer, nipple bolster with no clean-out screw, two-leaf folding rear sight, screw-fastened Enfield type barrel bands and a straight shank, tulip head ramrod. Many of the features introduced on the Model 1861 Special Rifle-Musket were subsequently incorporated on the Springfield Model 1863 Type I and Type II Rifle-Muskets. The barrel, lock plate and furniture have a "National Armory Bright" finish. The lock plate, hammer and barrel bands have a high polish finish while the barrel and other components have less polish. The rear sight is a dull military blue and is graduated for 100, 200 and 500 yards. The straight grain black walnut stock is oil finished. The barrel has a block style front sight that serves as a bayonet lug. The lock plate is dated "1863" behind the hammer and roll-stamped "U.S./COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. CO./HARTFORD CT." in three-lines ahead of it. The nipple bolster is stamped with a small Federal eagle and shield motif. The top of the barrel is dated "1863" and the left side is stamped with "V/P/Eagle Head" proof and inspection marks parallel to the axis of the bore. The left barrel flat is stamped with a small "F" Ordnance sub-inspection marks followed by "STEEL" in block letters. "U.S." is stamped on the top of the buttplate heel. "U" is stamped on the right side of the barrel bands facing the muzzle. Small, "M", Ordnance sub-inspection marks are stamped on most components. The left stock flat is stamped with the Ordnance sub-inspection and final inspection marks. One mark consists of the script initials "DAP" in a rectangle with rounded ends. The second inspection mark consists of the script initials "JT" in a rectangle with rounded ends. Colt manufactured an estimated 75,000 Model 1861 Special Rifle-Muskets for Ordnance Department contracts during the Civil War.

Excellent. The musket is as issued and shows only very minor storage wear. The barrel and lock plate have been lightly cleaned but retain most of the National Armory Bright finish. The rear sight has much of the military blue finish intact. The markings are sharp. The stock is in nearly new condition with raised, feathered, grain, very sharp edges and nearly perfect Ordnance sub-inspection and final inspection marks. This is an excellent example of a key Civil War rifle musket and important Colt martial Arm.