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Rare Civil War Confederate Type IV Fayetteville Armory Percussion Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:7,500.00 USD Estimated At:20,000.00 - 40,000.00 USD
Rare Civil War Confederate Type IV Fayetteville Armory Percussion Rifle
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Estimate: $20000 - 40000
Manufacturer: Fayetteville Armory Pistols And Rifles Model: Percussion Rifle
Rare Confederate Type IV Percussion Rifle manufactured at the former Federal Arsenal in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in 1864. The Fayetteville Percussion Rifles were manufactured using machinery captured from the U.S. Arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in 1861 and have the same general configuration as the U.S. Model 1855 rifle. This Type IV rifle has the late style lock plate that lacks the ''humpback'' profile of earlier production Fayetteville rifle locks, distinctive "S" shaped hammer, front sight that serves as a lug for a socket bayonet, three-leaf rear sight and straight shank tulip head ramrod. The rifle has a brass buttplate, trigger guard, barrel bands, and forearm cap. The barrel and lock are bright. The stock is oil finished black walnut. The lock plate is dated "1864" horizontally behind the hammer and stamped with an Eagle and Shield device above "C.S.A." followed by "FAYETTEVILLE" in front of the hammer. "C.S.A." is stamped on the buttplate tang. The top of the barrel is dated "1864" and "V/P/Eagle head" proof and inspection marks are stamped on the left barrel flat. The right side of both barrel bands are stamped "U" facing the muzzle. The left stock flat is stamped with a large (5/8-inch) oval inspection mark enclosing three script initials. The Fayetteville Armory was one of the most prolific Confederate small arms makers and manufactured an estimated 8,000-9,000 high quality Model 1855 pattern percussion rifles between 1862 and 1865. Approximately 5,000 of these rifles were final pattern Type IV rifles like this example. An old brass tag on the trigger guard identifies the rifle as part of the "WELLER/COLLECTION/PRINCETON N.J."
BBL: 33 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 58 percussion
Finish: bright
Grips:
Serial Number: NSN
Condition:
The rifle is very good and well above average for a Confederate weapon. The barrel has a mottled silver-gray patina with heavy flash pitting between the rear sight and the tang. The flash pitting partially obscures the "1864" date on the top of the barrel. The proof and inspection marks on the left barrel flat are sharp. The nipple bolster is heavily pitted. The lock plate has been cleaned and has a silver-gray patina while the "S" shaped hammer has the same brown patina as the barrel. The Eagle and Shield motif on the lock is faint but the other markings are clear. The brass forearm cap, barrel bands, trigger guard and buttplate have an attractive patina with sharp markings. The stock forearm has been cut beneath the lower barrel band. Aside from the forearm cut, the balance of the stock is very fine; the edges surrounding the lock plate and on the left flat are sharp and the stock itself shows only moderate handling wear. The inspection mark on the left flat is very fine. This is an attractive looking example of an important and widely used Confederate Fayetteville Rifle.