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Exceptional Civil War Remington Model 1863 Percussion Contract Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 7,000.00 USD
Exceptional Civil War Remington Model 1863 Percussion Contract Rifle
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Estimate: $5000 - 7000
Manufacturer: Remington Model: 1863
Model 1863 Percussion Contract Rifle manufactured by the Remington Arms Co., in 1863. Referred to by collectors as the "Zouave" rifle; the Model 1863 Contract Rifle was an improved version of the U.S. Model 1855 Rifle manufactured by the U.S. Harpers Ferry Arsenal. The Model 1863 Rifle was referred to in official documents as the "Harpers Ferry Pattern" rifle. The Model 1863 Rifle has the distinction of being the last percussion rifle adopted by the Ordnance Department and is generally considered to be the highest quality and best designed percussion military longarm. The barrel has a deep blue finish. The hammer and lock are color casehardened. The screws and band springs have a niter blue finish. The forend cap, barrel bands, trigger guard, patch box and buttplate are brass. The stock is oil finished black walnut. The rifle has a heavy round barrel with wide-base iron front sight and 1855 style rear sight with three folding blades. The right side of the muzzle has a lug for a saber bayonet. The bright finished straight shank tulip head ramrod is secured by a spring in the stock. The brass patch box is similar to the style used on the Model 1855 rifle and contains a spare percussion nipple. The lock plate is dated "1863" behind the hammer and roll-stamped with the Federal Eagle and Shield motif above: "U.S.". "REMINGTON'S/ILLION N.Y" is roll-stamped in two lines ahead of the eagle motif. The top of the barrel is stamped with the date "1863". The "Eagle-head/P/V" acceptance proof and inspection marks are stamped to the left of the date. The left barrel flat is stamped "STEEL" followed by the Ordnance inspection stamp "H.S.L". "U.S." is stamped on the heel of the buttplate. "U" is stamped on the right side of both barrel bands facing the muzzle. "L" or "C" Ordnance sub-inspection marks are stamped on all of the brass furniture and the lock plate. The left stock flat is stamped with the Ordnance sub-inspection and final inspection marks. The upper mark consists of the script initials "HDJ" (Henry D. Jennings) in a rectangle and the lower mark has the initials "BH" (Benjamin Hannis) with a rectangular border.
BBL: 33 inch
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 58 percussion
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: NSN
Condition:
Excellent plus. The rifle remains as issued and retains 98% of the original blue and casehardened finish with only very minor storage wear. The barrel has 98% or more of the deep blue finish intact; the only wear is a trace of finish loss at the edge of the muzzle caused by mounting a bayonet. There is no flash pitting on the bolster, percussion nipple, hammer or adjacent areas of the barrel or lock. The rear sight has all of the dark blue finish. The hammer and lock plate retain 98% of the vivid case colors. The brass forearm cap, barrel bands, trigger guard, patch box and buttplate are in excellent plus condition with a mellow un-polished patina. The ramrod and sling swivels have all of the original bright finish. The screws and barrel bands have 90% or more of the fiery niter blue finish. All of the markings on the barrel, lock plate, stock and other components are extremely sharp. The stock retains all of the original finish and is in the same near-new condition as the brass and steel components. The edges surrounding the lock plate and the edges of the barrel channel and stock flat are extremely sharp. The Ordnance sub-inspection and final inspection marks on the stock flat are in perfect condition. Stock wear is limited to a minor storage bruise on the right side of the forearm between the barrel bands. This is an exceptional un-fired example of an important Civil War percussion rifle. This nearly new rifle would be extremely difficult to improve upon.