Cut Down Richmond Rifle
Item #: AA879
This is a cut down of a Confederate Richmond rifle from the Civil War. The overall length of this now short arm is 34 1/4", with a barrel length of 18 1/4". While it began as a three band Richmond rifled musket, it is now well below standard carbine length. In Murphy and Madaus' book, "Confederate Carbines & Musketoons", chapter 14 discusses the Confederacy's problem of being able to supply enough carbines to the field. It is stated that on 20 August, 1862 the Macon Arsenal received 4000 weapons that had been recovered from the battlefield, captured or damaged. Major Cuyler, commandant of the Macon Arsenal, was instructed to clean, repair and ship these weapons back out to the field. In September Major Cuyler received instructions from the Confederate Chief of Ordnance, Lieutenant Colonel Josiah Gorgas, pertaining to this lot of arms. "I have received your letter of the 16th stating the condition of the arms sent to you for repairs. Repair everything that will shoot and where the barrels are not too much impaired, cut them off and make carbines of them." Later that year in December the commander of the 3rd Battalion of Georgia Volunteer Cavalry made several requests to Gorgas for arms for his men. LTC Gorgas wrote to Major Cuyler that same month, "Lieutenant Colonel Clinch is in want of carbines to arm his command, and i would like to supply him. If you could cut off some of the unserviceable arms listed on your last report and make carbines of them, you might send them to LTC Clinch if not otherwise ordered. This went on at other Confederate armories throughout the south. While these modified weapons, some being captured US arms, are known to exist they are not arsenal marked in any way. Such may be the case with our little carbine here. The rifled .58 caliber barrel was originally 40" in length. It is now 18 1/4" long, has little to no rifling left and gauges out at .60 caliber. The bore is clean and has a tiny area of pitting that should clean up nicely. There is no front sight on the barrel and a small split brass rear sight applied to the barrel. The left barrel flat is faintly stamped with the letters V, P and and an eagle head by the breech. The barrel has a grayish silver patina that matches the lockplate and trigger guard. The lockplate is stamped 1862 to the rear of the hammer and C.S. over RICHMOND,VA. forward of the hammer. The action on this little gun is perfect, locking up in half and full cock. The hammer drops strong when the trigger is depressed. There are no sling swivels on this gun. The one for the trigger guard bow is missing, no place to attach the front swivel. The walnut stock is in good condition, with the expected bumps and dings from normal handling. The forearm has been cut way back, flush with the spring for the rear barrel band. A new ramrod channel has been cut and the wood is thin in this area. There is only one barrel band, looks like a rear band from a Mississippi rifle. The butt plate is also brass. Both pieces have a nice eye pleasing bronze patina. It's unsure if this particular weapon was modified at one of the Confederate armories or by a resourceful southern cavalryman. One thing is sure, if you are in need of a genuine Confederate rifle this one has been there and done that!
Shipping Weight:
8 lbs
Item # AA879
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