Model 1861 Special Rifle-Musket manufactured by Colt c.1863. The Model 1861 Special Rifle Musket was a simplified version of the Springfield Model 1861 Rifle-Musket that featured a distinctive 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 are National Armory bright. 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. The straight grain black walnut stock is oil finished. The barrel has a block style front sight that serves as a bayonet lug; the leaves on the rear sight are graduated for 100, 200 and 500 yards. The lock plate has high polish finish and 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 "WP" Ordnance sub-inspection mark. "U.S." is stamped on the top of the buttplate heel. "U" is stamped on the right sides of the barrel bands facing the muzzle. Small single letter Ordnance sub-inspection marks are stamped on most components. The left stock flat is stamped with the Ordnance sub-inspector's and final inspector's marks. The stamps consist on three script initials in a rectangle with rounded ends and two script initials 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; many of these muskets apparently were never issued and remain in very-fine to excellent condition.

Excellent plus, as issued. The musket retains most of the original "National Armory Bright" finish. There are some small patches of pitting on the top and left side of the hammer, on the sides of the barrel bands and on the heel of the buttplate. The percussion nipple, bolster, hammer and adjacent portions of the lock plate and barrel are free from flash pitting. The rear sight retains more 98% of the military blue finish. The barrel and lock plate markings are sharp. The stock is in excellent condition with a few, scattered and relatively minor storage marks. The Ordnance inspection marks on the left flat are very sharp. This is an exceptional example of an important Civil War rifle-musket.