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Item No.:	8241	Price :	$2,475.00
Item :	COLT U.S. MODEL 1861 SPECIAL RIFLE MUSKET

Description :

This is an original, U.S. Model 1861 Special Rifle Musket manufactured by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut in 1863. The 1861 Special was an improved version of the Model 1861 that incorporated features from the Model 1853 Enfield musket. It used clamping barrel bands instead of bands retained by springs. The bolster was shaped differently and did not have a clean out screw and the lock plate and hammer had a different contour. These features worked well and the changes were incorporated into the later Model 1863 Rifle Musket. Colt produced as many as 100,000 of these rifle muskets with many going to various state contracts. New Jersey received a large number of these Colts. This rifle musket is in fine condition. The metal has turned a pewter gray over the years. The lock and hammer have a mottled gray finish. The barrel bands, butt plate, and trigger guard are turning brown. The barrel has a couple of small discolored areas with an orange hue, like new rust, but it is a stain. The mechanics work perfectly. The bore is very good. There are a few very light pits, but the rifling is strong and mostly smooth. The stock is very fine, dark with just a few tiny dings from use. There is a repair of a small hole right in the center of the butt stock. This is for a screw hole where some mental giant in the past decided that the best way to hang a musket was to screw it to the wall. The repaired area is small and unobtrusive. There are no inspector's marks on the stock, so it is probably a state contract gun. Included is an original nipple protector. This is a strong example of the Colt 1861 Special. Stock no. 21608

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