what caliber 1862

[karl degenhardt]

hi, just was given a musket,marked colt 1862. looks to have a rifled bore, what cal. were these weapons? should i take it to gun smith? thanks for any information.

Information

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[gsimmons]

They're .58 cal. It sounds like a special model 1861 musket. Is the bolster flat with an eagle on the side? Please post photos, they're great muskets and very collectable.

[karl degenhardt]

ill try and add photo soon,im not computer savey.

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[karl degenhardt]

thanks to badger,pics. got posted. cant thank him enough.ill learn this computer stuff one day, thanks again badger,karl .

[gew8805]

Yes, it .58 cal. and if you intend to try to shoot it it should be taken to a knowledgeable gunsmith with experience dealing with original black powder guns for a careful examination.

It may be a Colt Special Model musket as gsimmons suggested above, however, better shots of the assembled lock area are necessary to confirm - the bolster where the nipple seats should have a flat face with a national eagle stamped on it. If the bolster has rounded face and has a clean out screw, then the Colt lock has been placed on a standard M1861 Rifle Musket. It is interesting to see the "N.J." stampings on the barrel and stock, they indicate that the gun was the property of the State of New Jersey and was issued to their troops during the ACW.

[Dstavlo]

Its a Colt Special. New Jersey bought a ton of 'em during and after the war and stamped them with "N.J." If the rest of the gun is in that good a shape, then its worth anywhere from $1200-$1800

[Tom in N.J.]

Does the "C" over-stamping the inspectors initials mean "Condemned"????. I understand that N.J. kept muskets and percussion rifles in storage at the arsenal in Trenton until late in the nineteenth century, then sold them off as 'condemned' (scrap), even though many were new, unfired.

[Mike in Wis.]

From the pics it looks like someone took a wire brush or wheel to the barrel by the inspectors initials. DO NOT do that... slight cleanup of active rust via careful and limited use of a brass bristled brush with a solvent or the edge of a penny can be used. The steel on these rifles is quite mild, don't use anything harder then the steel to clean them. Many collectors would greatly de-value a firearm of that period with "scratches" from someone trying to spiff them up.

That's a nice find...