Around 1,500 of these rifles were manufactured for the U.S. contracts in addition to 3,000 for a Russian contract from 1859 to the early 1860s. These are considered to be the first bolt action firearms adopted by the U.S. Ordnance Dept. and are also the only U.S. contract weapons to use an underhammer system. The design was patented by Lieutenant Colonel James Durrell Greene of the 5th Massachusetts Militia (brevet brigadier general during the Civil War in the 17th United States Regular Infantry) and manufactured at Asa H. Water's armory in Millbury, Mass. It also has Charles Lancaster's distinctive oval rifling. Some were reportedly used at the Battle of Antietam by the Massachusetts militia, and the distinctive Greene cartridges with the powder ahead of the bullet have been recovered from that battlefield. It has a bayonet stud/blade front sight, notch and folding ladder rear sight, "GREENE'S PATENT/NOV. 17 1857." on the upper tang (faint), the serial number is on the bottom of the bolt, and no visible government markings.

Fine, retains 40% plus original brown finish on the barrel and action and 50% of original case colors on the hammer with the balance having mostly thinned to a smooth grey patina. The barrel bands retain 50% bright original nitre blue overall. The wood is very good with a few scattered minor dings and scratches, and a few minor chips along the cleaning rod channel. Mechanically excellent. A very good example of the U.S. military's first accepted bolt action rifle!