[1][3] Previously, historians of the war such as James M. McPherson have argued that the increased range of the rifled musket rendered the Napoleonic tactics with which Civil War commanders continued to fight obsolete and bloody. Posted December 24, 2009. Polly Pocket toys may be small in size, but they're big on value. Rifles were more accurate than smooth bore muskets, and could have been made using shorter barrels. What were the top long guns from the American Civil War? Not only is the Sharps perhaps one of the most elegant rifles to come out of the Civil War era, it also performed. This Enfield model 1853 was commonly used by both Union and Confederate infantry troops during the Civil War. The unfortunate experience the army had had with these led to a stigma against repeating rifles, combined with the old fear that they (and single-shot breech loaders) would encourage men to waste ammunition. PLEASE READ BEFORE COMMENTING! Besides being known for his poor generalship, stylish facial hair and being the first president of the NRA, Ambrose Burnside was also a firearms innovator. Outstanding Civil War U.S. Spencer Model 1860 Army repeating rifle with sling and bayonet. The Union purchased 226,924 Lorenz rifles, and the Confederacy bought as many as 100,000.[3]. Granville Stuart's Sharps Model 1874 Creedmoor No. The third most widely used weapon of the Civil War was the Lorenz Rifle. My gut feeling is that when new it was at least a middle grade gun. These rifles were also equipped with a bayonet, and have the stereotypical silhouette associated with Civil War reenactments and big-budget Hollywood productions. It MIGHT have been fired during the War - but was NOT a war weapon - it was used to hunt birds, rabbits and squirrels. This rifle was mostly used by Confederate snipers. When Confederate forces seized the manufacturing equipment from Harpers Ferry, they used it to continue production of the Model 1855 during the war. The Springfield Armory produced the most popular rifle of the Civil War, the Springfield model 1861 musket rifle. Rifles had been in use for many years, but prior to the civil war had been rare in military use. Old rifle identification help | Small Arms & Ammunition It is a nice family heirloom, Congratulations! In April of 2018, a desirable Sharps Model 1853 slant breech percussion carbine sold for $12,650 at auction. The Whitworth rifle was designed by Sir Joseph Whitworth, and was manufactured in Manchester, England. Firearms Genealogy | National Archives Designed by Jean Alexandre Le Mat with his manufacturing backed by P.G.T. With a B.S. Perhaps the most intriguing feature of the Civil War gun is its .60 caliber, 18 gauge under shotgun barrel located right underneath its .42 barrel giving the user an addition shot. They may be raw castings that were never finished. But the 24-inch, 9-pound brainchild of Benjamin Henry did have its weak points. Small shipments of this high caliber percussion rifle were delivered to the United States Armies during the Civil War. In that same auction, we had a selection of regular Burnside rifles sell from $2,300 to $4,025 depending on condition and provenance. In comparison to the Springfield's three rounds per minute, the Henry rifle could fire 28 rounds per minute. The gunpowder would sometimes leak from the cartridges in the field and settle into the cylinder. army service. The American Revolution was foughtand wonwith guns, and the weapons have become ingrained in U.S. culture, but the invention of firearms started long before colonists ever settled . It was the standard weapon for the British Army between 18531867. k.k. The Civil War era is an antique arms collector's dream for the same reason it was a nightmare for the Ordnance Department: a dizzying array of weapons and ammunition. We would take the wadding apart and lay it flat and turn it into something like a jigsaw puzzle. The Brunswick rifle was a high tech rifle during the 1830s when it was originally manufactured, but by the 1860s, it was an obsolete firearm. But weaponry advancements also played a large role. Christian Sharps falling-block still stirs the hearts of marksmen today. The rare Confederate Le Mat revolver is another highly desirable Civil War gun. A large variety of weapons were used during the Civil War, with rifles being the primary firearm soldiers employed during fighting. The Civil War rifle was the model that John Brown used in his raid of Harpers Ferry. Mata ng Agila International | April 20, 2023 | Mata ng Agila - Facebook The rifles differed from each other mainly in the different "actions" they had. Bridesburg Model 1861. However, these old and obsolete weapons were replaced by newer weapons as they became available. Christopher Spencers design limited the chance of dirt and other obstructions from rendering the carbine non-functional, an important feature for a rifle bound for battle. A few fell into Confederate hands, but proved largely unusable due to a lack of ammunition (the Confederacy had insufficient supplies of copper to manufacture the Spencer's rimfire cartridges). Civil War Hats: Different Types and Where to Find Them, From reenactments to museums, you can find beautifully preserved artifacts detailing the daily lives of Americans during the Civil War. Despite the rifles impressive capabilities the British military did not adopt the .451-caliber Whitworth. in Public History, Megan is fascinated by vintage & antique items. The standard weapon of the British Army between 1853 and 1867, like the Springfield the Enfield was a single-shot, muzzleloading rifle musket. However, there are no greater rifles to collect than these popular models. The Confederacy had at least seven units that were armed with Burnside rifles that had been captured from the Union armies. The North was thus able to supply its own small arms needs while the South had to continue to rely on foreign sources, eventually purchasing 580,000 rifles.[1]. Observe the Rifle's Silhouette. According to US Army records, up to 200,000 fragmentation bullets were ordered from Ira W. Shaler, although there is no evidence they were actually issued to troops. Admittedly, I know almost nothing about guns (a fact thats obvious to you). Civilian models did see war time uses if a soldier privately purchased the firearm, but it is hard to tell if the Civil War gun was for battle or just purchased by someone for general protection. The firearm was the most used carbine of the war and the most commonly carried by Union cavalry, with some 90,000 produced. Only about 2,500 made it to the Confederacy by means of their gun runners. Thank you for the quick and enlightening responses. Black powder fouled the rifling in the barrel and produced thick clouds of smoke which hung about the battlefield and obscured targets. There was an article in a very recent edition of Man at Arms Collector magazine on shotgun use in the Civil War. They are found, though, in many forms. Box 160 Llano, Texas 78643 If you have a specific identification question, please see our Identification Request Page. The Lorenz Rifle (again a rifled musket of the Mini variety) had highly mixed reviews in the Civil War. I need help in identifying the attached photo, Need help identifying uniforms and building, Looking for help identifying a Civil War era sword -, I need help identifying a possible Civil War Uniform. Though there were several models of the Springfield rifle created during the conflict, the 1861 model was the most heavily used and the easiest Civil War rifle to find on the antiques market today. Burnside's design eliminated the expulsion of hot gas from the weapon when it was fired by sealing the area between the barrel and the breech. Officially, less than 2,000 of the revolutionary, lever-action repeating rifles were procured by the Union. During the American Civil War, there was a real transitory period happening within the firearms industry. List of Civil War Rifles and Their Unique Features | LoveToKnow I HAVE I HEAVY BARREL TARGET RIFLE FROM THE CIVIL WAR. p. 249-250, Hess,E.J. [7][20][21], The Springfield Model 1855 was the first standard-issue rifle for the US Army to fire the Mini ball, with 60,000 having been built from 1856 to 1860 at both the Springfield and Harpers Ferry Armory. This had to be one of the finest Spencer rifles still surviving today. Black powder also quickly obscured the battlefield, which led military leaders of the time to conclude that the greater range of rifles was of little value on the battlefield. Many guns like this have " twist steel " barrels. The 130th Illinois reported that one-third or three-eights of these arms [Austrian] are defective.. The Henry rifle had a copper or brass cartridge that effectively sealed the breech of the gun so that the hot propellant gases would be held inside of the gun. [11], Breechloading and repeating rifles promised significant improvements over muzzleloading rifles, particularly repeaters as they allowed a far greater rate of fire than was possible with single-shot rifles. Her ancestors fought for both sides, however, the gun in question arrived to us through her late father who grew up in rural Mississippi (born 1940s) and moved to North Carolina in the 1970s. To reflect this longer range, the Springfield was fitted with two flip up sights, one set for 300 yards (270m) and the other for 500. Battle Tactics of the Civil War. The caplock replaced the flintlock, improving performance in wet weather and allowing for a slightly higher rate of fire, and the use of rifling with mechanically fitted bullets was tested by several inventors. Guns with a story and background are extremely interesting and exciting to collect with the Civil War era being a time that has many tales to tell. For instance, one was produced specially for African-American troops, and another for Zouave units. With 16+1 rounds of .44 Henry rimfire ammunition on tap, the rifle would have been money well spent. Civil War Guns: Union Long Arms - Rock Island Auction Company The Confederates made attempts to acquire these weapons, but they lacked the technological ability to reproduce them or their ammunition. I need help identifying a civil war uniform, Identifying Real/Replica Civil War Sword-Palmetto Armory, Need Help Identifying a Civil War Dress Sword. As such, officers typically failed to realize the power of rifles and continued to launch massed attacks against fortified enemies, which invariably resulted in heavy losses. Again, thanks for taking time to provide us your feedback, it is much appreciated! The Le Mat saw wear-and-tear but still showed good plum and brown patina. Considered by many to be the premier Mini-style rifled musket of the day, the Pattern 1853 Enfield could readily outperform its counterparts on the battlefield. It may have English proofs. Roberts was able to cordon off the extremists who were willing to upend the FDAand the entire drug regulatory processto remove the abortion pill from the marketplace. Due to this, it's statistically more likely for a family with a Union ancestor to have an Enfield in their collection than a Confederate family is to. A spectacular Civil War U.S. Burnside Fifth Model breech loading saddle ring carbine. 10,000 of the muskets were sent to Hall, Carrol and Co and Greenwood and Co, both of Cincinnati, Ohio. Get the 76th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. Most suggestions that I have received is the Whitney/Plymouth Naval rifle. The seven-shot Spencer was produced in rifle and carbine versions, although the latter was more common. It performed so well under combat conditions that the Confederate armies believed that they had attacked an entire division instead of a single regiment during the Battle of Chickamauga. Most rifles of this era were muzzle loaded rifled muskets. In this image provided by the British Ministry of Defense, on . If sending a check or money order, please mail, payable to: The History Store P.O. I can't tell from the pictures if the barrels are Damascus or not. The bored out versions were not consistent in caliber, ranging from .57 to .59. Despite the limited quantities that were made during the war, the gun went on to be a massive success in the post-war period, becoming the Winchester model 1866 and launching the Winchester name. If you are wanting to buy Antique Weapons or Curios & Relics, please visit our Online Store and view our items. Some southern cavalry and guerrillas used shotguns but their barrels were cut off short. The range and accuracy were big selling points, as well as its .44 caliber which provided excellent stopping power. Traditionally, mounted soldiers carried a lance, sword, or pistol and could sweep enemy infantry weakened by artillery or musket fire. These home goods ranged from coats to shoes to even weapons. The ignition source was a folded rim on the inside of the gun. The Sharps continued to make history after the war. p. 26-27, Guelzo,A.C.(2012). Military leaders therefore preferred the faster loading smooth bore weapons over the more accurate rifles. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Besides the Henry, no other long gun could provide a shooter with 7 rounds before having to reload. Despite somewhat limited use, the muzzleloader still reached mythological status with Rebel sharpshooters who achieved some truly astounding shots with the rifle, and in the process struck terror into Union troops. The curved trajectory of the bullet also meant there was a gap over which the bullet flew: a rifle musket sighted to a range of 500 yards would send the bullet clear over the head of a mounted cavalryman standing at a distance of 250 yards.