This is one of an estimated 5,151 later production Model 1855 percussion rifles with a 33 inch barrel, two barrel bands and iron mountings, including an iron patch box, manufactured by Harpers Ferry for the U.S. government from 1857 to 1861. Most of the iron mounted rifles were issued to militia units and a number were shipped to Southern states prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. The Harpers Ferry Arsenal was abandoned by the Union Army on April 18, 1861, six days after the first shots were fired at Fort Sumter and was occupied by Confederate units that included "Stonewall" Jackson's Virginia militia until June 18, 1861. The Confederates had a desperate need for weapons and produced many mini muskets as possible before abandoning the Arsenal. Any Harpers Ferry rifle dated 1861, as this one, was therefore either issued to Union soldiers prior to or during the early days of the Civil War or was issued to Confederate soldiers or Virginia militia units. The limited number of Model 1855 Rifles saw heavy use with both the Federal and Confederate armies throughout the Civil War and many were destroyed when the Confederates burned the factory. As a result, the survival rate of these rifles is low, and examples in very good or better condition are very scarce. These rifles featured the Maynard tape primer and percussion bolster with clean out screw. The barrel has been counter bored, absent of rifling on the first 1/4 inch at the muzzle. The rifle is equipped with a blade front sight, three leaf rear sight with "1", "3" and "5" graduations, and a bayonet lug on the right side of the barrel 3 1/2 inches back of the muzzle. The lock plate is dated "1861" at the rear, and "U.S./HARPER'S FERRY" is stamped ahead of the Maynard primer door. The primer door has an American eagle motif. The breech end top of the barrel is also dated "1861" with "V/P/Eagle Head" proof on the left side at the breech. Both barrel bands are stamped with the letter "U". It has a tulip head iron ramrod with a swollen shaft, sling swivel on the front barrel band and front of the trigger guard and mounted with a smooth full length walnut stock with a faint oval cartouche on the left flat and iron carbine style buttplate marked "US" on the tang and Comes with a wooden muzzle tampion.

Very good. The metal surfaces remain bright showing some scattered minor pitting and scattered areas of remnants of a protective coating. The barrel band springs are moderately pitted. The stock is good as refinished and repaired at the wrist. The buttplate is a bit ill-fitting. Overall, there are scattered minor dents, nicks and dings. The proofmarks on the breech end of the barrel are fading. Otherwise, the markings are clear. The action is excellent. This solid representative example of both a scarce and highly desirable Harpers Ferry Model 1855 percussion rifle.