-
- 1862 Richmond Rifle Musket, High Hump
-
- Richmond High Hump, Shoulder Stock
-
- Richmond Rifle Musket, Forward Stock
-
- 1862 Richmond Rifle Musket, Left Side
-
- Richmond Rifle Musket, Patch Box
-
- 1862 Richmond High Hump, Lock Plate
-
- Richmond Rifle Musket, Bottom Barrel Band
-
- Richmond Rifle Musket, Barrel Band & Sling
-
- Richmond Rifle Musket, Forward Barrel Band
-
- Richmond Rifle Musket, Proofs
-
- 1862 Richmond Rifle Musket Cartouche
-
- Richmond Rifle Musket, Front Sight
-
- 1862 Richmond High Hump, Lock Plate Cocked
September of 1861 the Confederate Government made arrangements with the state of Virginia to take control of the armory in Richmond Virginia. It was understood that most if not all guns made at the armory would go to Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia.
The Richmond Armory manufactured about 40,000 musket rifles, carbines, and short rifles. They also repaired thousands of battlefield pickups and guns captured from the enemy.
That brings me to the next weapon in my Civil War Arsenal, an 1862 C.S. Richmond Virginia High Hump Rifled Musket. Made with Harpers Ferry wood, displaying a patch box. This may be one of the finest examples of a Richmond High Hump you will ever see.
This rifle musket was assembled between January & April 1862 since none of the parts except for the lock plate and the ram rod are Southern made. In March/April of 1862 the Richmond Armory retooled there dies to reconfigure the hump on the lockplates to what most call today a low profile hump, allowing the user to easily place and remove a percussion cap on the nipple of the lock plate. They also started running out of parts that were captured at the Harpers Ferry Arsenal earlier in April 1861.
We know based on examples of existing muskets made after April 1862, that they had low profile lock plates and they also had a mixture of parts that were manufactured at Harpers Ferry as well as the Richmond Armory.
You can gather more information on this with “Paul J. Davies book C.S. Armory Richmond”.
It’s my opinion all the parts on this weapon are leftover parts manufactured at the Harpers Ferry Arsenal except for the lock plate and the ram rod. I purchased this weapon at a Civil War gun show in Gettysburg PA. a few years back by a reputable dealer. Like so many of the high value weapons in my arsenal my wife did the negotiating and she probably saved me/us a couple thousand dollars. I would have paid whatever he was asking, but she’s not as emotional as I am about the Civil War, she wants the bargain.
If you have any questions about this weapon or any of the other weapons in the Civil War Arsenal, feel free to email me at civilwararsenal@yahoo.com attn: Gene West
Hi Gene,
I saw your website online and thought I would contact you about a musket I have for sale. Its an 1862 CS musket, see attached pictures. It was handed down through a family I knew, the lady I got it from informed me that her great grandfather was the one who had this rifle, he was also a member of the KKK (which she was rather embarrassed to say, although she still had his member patches in her possession)
It is an exceptional example of the high hump as you can see. the buttplate is marked US instead of CS (maybe a harpers ferry leftover?) Anyway, I am looking to sell this, if you are interested or know of anyone else interested please let me know. After seeing the condition of most of these muskets that are still in existence today, you will agree this one is one of the nicest you will find. I have a bunch of pictures but my email is having a problem sending more than a few at a time. if you are interested, I can send more of specific parts at your request
Regards,
Paul B.
732-718-2665
Gene, I live in the UK. I bought this “Richmond” rifle from a specialist antique arms auction house here. It was described as “RICHMOND ARSENAL, AMERICA A SCARCE .58 PERCUSSION SERVICE MUSKET, type II and dated 1862……”
Two views I have had from specialist dealers in the US so far are:
“Looks like someone put a CS lock in a US gun. Sorry.”
“This gun has been reworked from muzzle to butt. Very little, if any, is Richmond. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.”
I was wondering if I could possibly get your opinion as well. I’m sure I can sort this out with the Auctioneer and I will continue to look for a genuine example of one of these. Strangely, it was the only item in the auction in respect of which there was no photo and the gun itself was not available for inspection. I had to buy blind relying entirely on the description and the fact that the Auctioneer is highly reputable. Mysteriously, the gun materialised shortly after I had bought it, when it became evident that there were no markings on the barrel at all and only one barrel band has the characteristic “U” on it.
Photos to follow marked CGY – Richmond rifle?
Thanks and regards,
Chris Young
Chris, hard to say exactly, but it does look like you have a Richmond Rifle that has been pieced together with Union parts. This is not unusual…..buyer beware…..”All Richmond (Confederate) weapons should be handled and examined before purchasing!
I have made the mistake of buying from auctions houses that don’t allow an inspection period ( buyers remorse ) and I have vowed never to do that again……I’m hoping that’s not the case with you.
Good luck mitigating your purchase, if I can be of further help let me know.
Regards, Gene West
GOOD AFTERNOON GENE. MY NAME IS MIKE NEWMAN AND I HAVE BEEN A COLLECTOR OF MILITARY ANTIQUE LONGARMS SINCE MY DAD & I STARTED IN 1954. I STARTED LIQUIDATING MY 214 GUN COLLECTION IN 2000 AND I AM DOWN TO A FINAL FEW. I BOUGHT THE EARLIEST RICHMOND MUSKET I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OWN OUT OF AMERICA FORK, UTAH IN 1987. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY “KEEPER” AND HAS NEVER SEEN A GUN SHOW OR BEEN FOR SALE UNTIL 2 WEEKS AGO.
THE STOCK , BARREL, RAMSOD AND APPURTANENCES ARE VERY EARLY PARTS CAPTURED FROM HARPERS FERRY. THEY CONFORM 100% TO THE MURPHY & MADAUS BOOK. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THIS WAS ASSEMBLED BETWEEN SEPT/1861 AND MARCH/1862. HOWEVER, THIS HAS A LOW HUMP LOCKPLATE DATED 1863. THE GUN HAS NEVER BEEN CLEANED AND THE WOOD IS PROUD OF THE METAL. THE STOCK CLEARLY SHOWS REMNANTS OF A “SA” CARTOUCHE PLUS REMNANTS OF THE “JAS” CARTOUCHE FROM HARPERS FERRY.
I HAVE CONTACTED YOU AS I HAVE FOLLOWED YOUR COMMENTARY AND RESEARCH FOR A WHILE. I APPRECIATE YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE MARKET. IF YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN PURSUING THIS, I AM OFFERING IT FOR SALE TO YOU. JUST SO YOU KNOW,I CONTACTED DAVE TAYLOR 2 WEEKS AGO WITH 1ST CHOICE BASED ON MY LONG TERM RELATIONSHIP. HE DECLINED FOR THE PRESENT.
YOU MAY CONTACT ME AT: xxx-xxx-xxxx OR xxxxxxxxx@hotmail.com. I HAVE 16 PICS AND CAN PROVIDE A DETAILED DESCRIPTION. I NOW LIVE IN LEWISVILLE TX AFTER 35 YEARS IN PHOENIX, AZ.
BEST REGARDS,
MIKE