CS Fayetteville .58 caliber, Rifled Musket Late Type III / Early Type IV

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Fayetteville rifles were manufactured with machinery captured from the U.S. arsenals at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, and shipped to Fayetteville, North Carolina in early 1862; research indicates that approximately 8,000 to 9,000 rifles were manufactured between 1862 and 1865 at the Fayetteville Armory. This rifle is a rare Type III Transitional model that is marked “1863” on the lock and “1861” on the barrel.  It has the distinctive Fayetteville, S-shaped hammer.  The stock, which remains in excellent condition, exhibits the inspector’s cartouche on the flat opposite the lock; this cartouche is a script PB, the initials of the Fayetteville master armorer, Philip Burkhart.  The butt plate, with “CSA” stamped in the tang, as well as a large letter “C”, the trigger guard, both barrel bands (which show the typical “U” stampings) and the nose cap are brass.  The gun retains its original sights –  a blade front sight and a three-leaf rear sight. The barrel is rifled .58 caliber and remains clean with rifling remaining; there is no saber bayonet lug near the barrel’s muzzle, so the rifle utilized a socket bayonet. The V.P. and eagle are visible on the barrel near the breech plug as is the date “1861”. It has the low profile lock plate dated “1863“, behind the hammer and an eagle motif over “C.S.A” and “FAYETTEVILLE” marked in the front section. The hammer is the typical “S” shape. The original, iron ramrod has a tulip shaped tip. This Fayetteville appears to be a late Type III to early Type IV transitional model, and it remains in excellent, mechanically sound condition, with the metal exhibiting a mottled gray plum look and the brass a pleasing, aged “mustard” patina. When we obtained the rifle, it was missing the small screw that holds the hammer to the lock; this can easily be obtained and put into place.