These New Model 1859 rifles were manufactured from 1859 to 1862 and were most famously issued to the Berdan Sharpshooters. This example falls within the Berdan Sharpshooter range. It has standard markings and features of a New Model 1859 rifle made for the U.S. Navy and has no visible cartouches or inspection markings and is likely one of 2,780 manufactured for the Navy during the Civil War. It was later converted for metallic cartridges and has "17" stamped on the left of the buttstock.