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The model 1861 Springfield rifled musket was the main firearm
of the Civil War.
SPRINGFIELD
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The model 1861 Springfield, a Minié-type rifled musket shoulder arm, was the main firearm of the Civil War, favored
for its range, accuracy, and reliability. At the end of 1863 most Federal infantrymen were armed either with this
musket or the Enfield. Almost a million pieces were produced, mainly by Springfield Armoury but contracts were
also made with many other companies: Remington, Whitney, Janks, Savane among the most famous - and even
Manton in London and Suhl in Germany. Overwhelmed by the demand, the Springfield Armory where they were
officially made opened its weapons patterns up to twenty private contractors.
The Springfield had an effective range of 200 to 300 yards, and used percussion caps to fire rather than the flintlocks
of the 18th century. The Maynard tape primer, used by the 1855 model, was eliminated with the 1861 model as it
proved to be expensive and unreliable in damp weather conditions. Trained troops were able to fire at a rate of three
rounds per minute while maintaining accuracy up to 500 yards, though firing distances in the war were often much
shorter. The Springfield was aimed using flip-up leaf sights, which were set to 300 and 500 yards.
The Springfield Model 1861 was equipped with a triangular socket bayonet.
U.S. MODEL 1861 PERCUSSION RIFLE
This piece features a one-piece forged barrel; military style sights; steel butt plate,
trigger guard and barrel bands; a swelled ramrod like the original muskets.
The lock is marked “1861 Springfield” with an eagle, and it features a one-piece
walnut, oil finished stock. NSSA approved.
NSSAAPPROVED