Only 1,500 U.S. and 3,000 Russian contract Greene rifles were manufactured by A.H. Waters Armory circa 1859 to the early 1860s. It has the distinction of being considered the first bolt action rifle purchased by the U.S. government. Technically, the bolt mechanism is simply a loading feature, and the action itself operates via a manually cocked ring hammer ahead of the trigger guard. Although the bore appears smooth, it actually has an oval type of rifling invented by Charles Lancaster, a London Gunmaker. It is marked "GREENE'S PATENT/NOV. 17 1857." on the upper tang and features a bayonet lug/blade front sight, stepped rear sight graduated 5 through 8 on the folding leaf and 1-4 on the base, three barrel bands, trumpet head ramrod, buttplate with trapdoor for the included cleaning brush, straight wrist walnut stock, and sling swivels mounted on the middle barrel band and lower tang. Some small quantities of Greene rifles were sold to state militia units via William Read & Sons of Boston which likely explains the lack of inspection markings on this and some other examples.