Very Rare Confederate Richmond CS 1864 33” Short Rifle .58 Cal Civil War
SOLD FOR: $5,036.00
LSB#: WY240911RL050
Make: Richmond Armory
Model: 1864 Short Rifle “From Old Parts”
Serial #: NSN
Year of Manufacture: ca. 1864
Caliber: .58 Caliber
Action Type: Black Powder Muzzle Loading Single Shot Percussion
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “V”. The left side of the barrel bands is marked “U”. The lockplate is marked “C.S. Richmond” and features the year “1864”.
Barrel Length: 33” with Rifeling
Sights/ optics: The front site is blade fixed to the top of the barrel. The rear sight is missing.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a smooth walnut with a long forend that runs to about 5” of the muzzle, where it is capped with a brass nose cap. The underside of the nose cap and the forend are grooved for a steel ramrod, which is included. The forend is held with two barrel bands, and the front band and the front of the two-piece trigger guard are mounted with sling swivels. The buttstock has a straight grip and a carbine-style curved steel buttplate. There are multiple sets of initials hand-carved into the stock. These will suit an investigative collector just fine as they will set one off on an adventure to discover the past. The stock features a large number of light-moderate scrapes, scratches, nicks, draglines, and chips from service. More notably the action behind the hammer is missing a chunk. There is a chip missing at the bottom of the lock plate and a crack on the left side of the lock screw. The LOP measures 13 ½” from the trigger to the buttplate. The brass buttplate shows scattered thick, dark mustard patina scuffs and surface oxidation. The buttplate is in good overall condition. The stocks rate Good-Very Good overall condition as an antique.
Type of Finish: In the white
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright. The rifling is surprisingly strong and visible. There is moderate erosion throughout the bore. The bore rates a 7/10 in this writer’s opinion.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 0% of its metal finish. There is spotted surface oxidation scattered throughout with surface erosion around the lock plate & nipple. The barrel has several scratches and nicks, most notable is the corrosion near the nipple. The screw heads are useable and unmarred, although they are all weathered. The markings are clear except for the proof around the left side of the chamber and the cartouches that once adorned the wood. The ramrod has some damage but is in good condition and functions properly. Overall this rifle rates in about Good – Very Good considering its origin.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: none
Our Assessment: Murphy and Madaus state, “Richmond short rifle production must have been extremely limited, as surviving examples are very rare” (p.606.) Indeed, Paul Davies in CS Armory Richmond could only document the production or delivery of 1,050 of these rifles, with another possible 261 that were listed as “Richmond Rifles Cal. 58” on 30 June 1864 ordnance returns for the 5th and 15th Virginia Cavalry. These “short rifles,” whether “from old parts” or “new,” are both rare and esthetically pleasing, using a 33-inch .58 caliber barrel secured by two barrel bands and ending with a brass stock tip midway between the upper band and muzzle, essentially following the lines of the US M1855 rifle and Confederate derivatives like the Fayetteville, etc.
As with Richmond carbines and musketoons, these rifles could utilize rifle musket barrels that had been damaged near the muzzle but, more importantly, they could use rifle musket stocks that had been damaged above the middle barrel band, whose band spring inletting caused problems within creating shorter carbines and musketoons.
Unlike the other 33-inch barrel rifles, however, no provision was made for a bayonet, the rifle having no side lug and a pinched front sight with no block base. They can thus be classified as cavalry as well as infantry arms, which Davies cites as a reason for positing the 261 Virginia cavalry Richmond rifles might be these weapons. The barrel length was no obstacle: Fayetteville rifles have been documented in the hands of Confederate cavalrymen.
This is a very scarce, rifle and also one that well illustrates Confederate ingenuity in the face of failing resources- in this case, stock production out of Macon. At the same time, despite postwar use as a smoothbore and some modern cleaning that can be dressed down, it has a great deal of visual as well as historical appeal and would be a great addition to a CS cavalry, infantry, long arm, or even Richmond Armory focused collection. So bid high and bid firm. I highly encourage you to take a look at the condition of the rifle in our high-quality photos. Good luck with your bid. -K.F.
