Have to admit, I have very little knowledge of black powder firearms. But I knew enough to pick this one up for $160 OTD.
It's an 1863 US Bridesburg .58 cal Civil War musket, subcontracted by Bridesburg Machine Works, owner Alfred Jenks & Son of Pennsylvania, for the Springfield Armory. It is built on the same specs as the 1861 Springfield, with a few minor changes such as the barrel band springs.
This one isn't going to be operational any time soon. The hammer retaining bolt is broken, rear sight is missing, and ramrod is absent. The nipple is quite deteriorated, middle sling swivel is gone, has a pinned stock repair behind the hammer, and spiders made a home in the bore (may have had rifling removed?). But it does still set in both half and full cock positions.
Markings are VP over eagle head on the left rear barrel. The 1863 stamp on top of the barrel is all but pitted away. U stamps on the barrel bands, and US marked buttplate are legible. And the lockplate is still fairly crisp, with 1863, Eagle Stamp, and US Bridesburg present. The stock cartouches seem to be sanded away, but overall, the wood is quite nice.
Anyway, I've rambled on enough. Pics next, and thanks for looking.
It's an 1863 US Bridesburg .58 cal Civil War musket, subcontracted by Bridesburg Machine Works, owner Alfred Jenks & Son of Pennsylvania, for the Springfield Armory. It is built on the same specs as the 1861 Springfield, with a few minor changes such as the barrel band springs.
This one isn't going to be operational any time soon. The hammer retaining bolt is broken, rear sight is missing, and ramrod is absent. The nipple is quite deteriorated, middle sling swivel is gone, has a pinned stock repair behind the hammer, and spiders made a home in the bore (may have had rifling removed?). But it does still set in both half and full cock positions.
Markings are VP over eagle head on the left rear barrel. The 1863 stamp on top of the barrel is all but pitted away. U stamps on the barrel bands, and US marked buttplate are legible. And the lockplate is still fairly crisp, with 1863, Eagle Stamp, and US Bridesburg present. The stock cartouches seem to be sanded away, but overall, the wood is quite nice.
Anyway, I've rambled on enough. Pics next, and thanks for looking.
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