Guns International #: 102534111
Seller's Inventory #: 228520

Category - Civil War Rifles - Antique Rifles - Percussion

Category
Civil War Rifles
Antique Rifles - Percussion

RARE PHILADELPHIA Made M1861 Rifle-Musket RICE PA US CIVIL WAR Antique 1862 CONTRACT Musket Made by JOHN RICE w/BAYONET

Description:
RARE PHILADELPHIA Made M1861 Rifle-Musket RICE PA US CIVIL WAR Antique 1862

CONTRACT Musket Made by JOHN RICE w/BAYONET

Here we present an antique “Philadelphia” Civil War U.S. Model 1861 Contract Rifle-Musket, made in 1862 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The consensus is that these muskets were contracted for by the U.S. Ordnance Department from Philadelphia native John Rice.

On November 21, 1861, Rice obtained a contract with the U.S. Government to produce 36,000 U.S. Model 1861 rifle-muskets at the rate of $20.00 per stand. Like many other contractors seeking out these small arms contracts early on at the onset of the war, Rice planned on relying on contractors to supply him with parts, and his workers would only assemble and deliver the guns. Research indicates that the only thing Rice was interested in making were the stocks. After having issues getting the materials needed to produce the guns, Rice was unable to deliver the guns as agreed upon by the Ordnance Department. And, according to Ordnance Department records, no deliveries were ever made under Rice’s contract. That said, correspondence from Rice suggests that he had sufficient parts on hand to produce between 500 and 1,500 rifle muskets during the early summer of 1862. The question that now comes is what happened to those parts? Some say they were sold to Alfred Jenks & Sons. Strangely, Jenks delivered 464 Model 1861s to the Ordnance Department in November of 1862 that were not part of his small arms contract, leading one to believe these were part of the Rice “Philadelphia” muskets.
There are several other theories on what happened to the Rice “Philadelphia” locks, but one this is for sure, and that this is a difficult musket variation to find, and the “Philadelphia” locks are extremely scarce and that no more that 500 to 1,500 of the lock were ever marked in that fashion, with the actual number being more likely in the 500-1,000 range. In addition to the normal date and VP eagle head proofs on the top of the barrel, this one has a deep set “R”, we believe for Rice, as well as another marking.

The overall condition is near fine. Excellent action. Good bore with strong rifling. Solid walnut stock showing signs of use. “US” marked lock and bayonet in great shape. This is a rare piece and one of the most difficult to come by if collecting all the variants of the Model 1861 rifle-musket.

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 40 inches.

Caliber: .58 Percussion

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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ancestryguns

$3600

#228520
 

SOLD

Antique: Yes