U. S. Model 1841 Mississippi Rifle, .58 caliber 33" barrel, percussion, beech, brass trim, used, marked Replica Arms - Ridgefield N.J.. by V. Bernardelli, Italy
The Model 1841 U.S. Percussion Rifle is also known as the "Mississippi Rifle" due to the use of the rifle by a Mississippi regiment under the command of Jefferson Davis during the Mexican War. It is estimated that nearly 70,000 of these rifles were produced by a combination of the Harpers Ferry arsenal and various contractors. Manufactured in Italy for Replica Arms Co, this rifle is offered as used with a few handling marks on the beech stock. The brass furniture has aged to a dark patina. The lock is color case hardened and the barrel is finished to a smooth brown. Trigger reach is 13-3/8", and this rifle weighs 9.3 pounds.
The .58 caliber tapered round 33" barrel is rifled with three lands and grooves similar to the later Model 1861 Springfield. Historically this Model U.S. 1841 rifle would have been issued with a .54 caliber bore, but it is noted that some were bored to the larger .58 caliber at National Armories. The bore appears to be bright inside. It will make a fine shooter, or rifle for Mexican War or Civil War impression. The color case hardened tang of the breech plug is stamped with the serial number. The breech end of the barrel is stamped with a V view mark, P Proof mark, and eagle head over Black Powder Only. The top of the barrel is stamped Replica Arms - Ridgefield N.J., which was used for a period after Navy Arms Co. purchased Replica Arms Company in the early 1970's.
The beech stock is stained to a golden brown. The brass patchbox is retained with three blued steel screws, as original. Inside the patchbox the rifle has the original worm and a additional nipple. The forearm does have a small square patch, which appears to be original to the construction. The stock is fitted with a brass buttplate with rounded comb. The flat end and simple comb shape are designed to simplify the inletting of this often difficult to fit part. The comb of the buttplate is stamped with a makers mark over V. Bernardelli / Gardone V.T. / Made in Italy.
The toe is rounded in military fashion. The stock has a few small handling marks. The brass triggerguard is fitted with a correct swivel for your military style leather sling, not included. The rifle is equipped with a metal ramrod with a flared brass tip. The hidden end of the ramrod has a threaded male end with 5-.8mm threads. A long thin brass sideplate is inlet flush with the side panel with two lock bolts.
The lock plate has a correct mottled color case hardened finish. Internally, the lock is nicely factory finished. The lock plate is marked with a Eagle over U.S. The factory original blued steel musket nipple is installed and it does not appear to have seen much use. We offer our #MMI-I hardened steel 8-1mm replacement nipple, and our #NW-100 musket nipple wrench for use with this rifled musket. These rifled muskets have a very small amount of clearance between the nipple and flash fence, it takes a very slender wrench to remove them.
A very early imported replica U.S. Model 1841 Rifled Musket in excellent condition. Order it for a ten day visual inspection. You will be delighted. Else if it does not fit you, return it in unfired condition for same-day refund. Postage is your only risk, when you order any one-of-a-kind gun from Track, whether new, used, or antique.
