1864 Musket & Accoutrements
I am researching a Springfield 1864 musket and it's accouterments and would like any information that can be given. I've posted a lot of pictures online at http://www.smithfamilyfarmvt.com/guns/CivilWar/.
Its lockplate is marked Providence Tools Co., which was one of the sub-contractors for Springfield in the Civil War. It is a Model 1864. There is no visible serial number. It is missing one of the three bands and its ramrod, but is otherwise in great shape. My great-uncle also had it reblued a number of years ago.
When my great-uncle acquired the gun many years ago, it came with a U.S. Army belt, cartridge box, and bayonet with scabbard. There is also a holster, but we believe that it was not Army issued (at least not Civil War). The cartridge box is stamped "L.H. Norfolk / U.S. / ORD DEPT / SUB INSPECTOR" . There is a ink-stamped "26" on the belt. A name is written on the belt as well. It is "W_ Atkins" - I am trying to determine if it is likely that it is the soldier's name or a later owner.
The story behind this gun is that the American Legion in Dorset, VT, was given a number these Springfields to use in parades. They eventually gave the lot of them to a member, who gave one to my great uncle. He says that his gun actually had a powder charge in it when he got it!
Its lockplate is marked Providence Tools Co., which was one of the sub-contractors for Springfield in the Civil War. It is a Model 1864. There is no visible serial number. It is missing one of the three bands and its ramrod, but is otherwise in great shape. My great-uncle also had it reblued a number of years ago.
When my great-uncle acquired the gun many years ago, it came with a U.S. Army belt, cartridge box, and bayonet with scabbard. There is also a holster, but we believe that it was not Army issued (at least not Civil War). The cartridge box is stamped "L.H. Norfolk / U.S. / ORD DEPT / SUB INSPECTOR" . There is a ink-stamped "26" on the belt. A name is written on the belt as well. It is "W_ Atkins" - I am trying to determine if it is likely that it is the soldier's name or a later owner.
The story behind this gun is that the American Legion in Dorset, VT, was given a number these Springfields to use in parades. They eventually gave the lot of them to a member, who gave one to my great uncle. He says that his gun actually had a powder charge in it when he got it!
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The old Springfield Armory is still open as a museum operation as far as I know. I was able to tour it some years back. Get their address in Springfield, Mass. and send them a letter or e-mail and pictures. They may charge a fee for research, but it is worth a try. Just as a little info for you - if this gun was re-blued it really trashed the collector value, but there is still a lot of interest in these old guns. You might also want to post your info request in the " Black Powder- Cowboy Action Shooting " Forum here at Gunbroker. Best of luck with your search. 0 -
Hi, Katie,
First off, your rifle is neither a Springfield nor is it a Model 1864, and the Springfield arsenal would be unlikely to provide you with any additional information.
Your rifle is a US Model 1861 .58 caliber rifled musket, the most common model of muskets used in the Civil War, and was contracted by the US government to various gunmakers during the war. Providence Tool Company of Providence, Rhode Island, produced approximately 700,000 Model 1861 rifled muskets from 1862-1865. The cursive "GC", or "cartouche", on the side of your stock indicates US government inspector George Curtis. The "SC" to the right of Curtis' stamp might indicate that your rifle was reissued to the South Carolina militia following the war but that's only speculation. I was unable to identify the "CRM" inspector's cartouche but he may have been a subinspector not on my list of primary inspectors. Even though it has been reblued, it appears to be complete and in very good condition. Actually, "reblued" is a misnomer as your rifle was never blued in the first place and was issued in bright steel, although the rear sights were sometimes blued.
Your accoutrements are also very nice and having the cartridge box tins, which held .58 caliber paper cartridges, is a definite plus. LH Norfolk was a sub-inspector at the Allegheny Arsenal in Pittsburgh, Pa. Interestingly yet tragically, the arsenal exploded in September, 1862, killing 78 workers, 53 of which were women.
The name inside the belt, W. Atkins, would be the name of the owner which could be the soldier or a subsequent owner. Only history has the true answer as the Civil War data base lists 113 soldiers with the name of "W Atkins" http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/soldiers.cfm
I hope some of this information helps you. All in all, you have a very nice set of Civil War items and would do very well if you ever decided to part with them. Thanks for sharing!0
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