The Joslyn rifle was the first breech loading metallic cartridge rifle manufactured at a U.S. national armory. 3,007 were assembled in January to June of 1865 utilizing breech units supplied by the Joslyn Firearms Company. 1,600, including this one, were converted for the .50-70 Government cartridge and reassembled with little regard to matching numbers and sold to the French during the Franco-Prussian War. Most of those were later sporterized making .50-70 rifles like this scarce. It has standard Civil War era rifle-musket sights, "M/203" on top of the breechblock, "M/2442" on the upper tang, "1864" and "U.S./SPRINGFIELD" on the lock, and a "US" socket bayonet.

Very good with mostly bright metal, light silver gray patina visible on the breechblock and lock plate assembly, some areas of light spotting/pitting, some dents in the wood, faint hairline crack at the tail of the lock, and general minor marks and scratches. Mechanically excellent.