Lot 2148

U.S. CIVIL WAR SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1855 TAPER PRIMER SYSTEM .58 CAL RIFLED MUSKET WITH BAYONET AND SCABBARD

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U.S. CIVIL WAR SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1855 TAPER PRIMER SYSTEM .58 CAL RIFLED MUSKET WITH BAYONET AND SCABBARD

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Current Bid: $360

(9 Bids)

by Bradford's
June 28, 2026 9:00 AM MST
Timed Auction
15210 N 99th Ave
Sun City, AZ, US 85351

U.S. Civil War Springfield Model 1855 Taper Primer System .58 cal Rifled Musket with Bayonet and Scabbard. Markings: The Lock Plate is marked “1857” / “US SPRINGFIELD” And the Door for the Maynard tape is marked with an “Eagle with Striped Shield” The top of the chamber is marked “1858” the left side of the chamber is marked “V” over “P”. The top of the butt plate is marked “US”. The right side of the three barrel bands are all marked "U". The bayonet is marked "US" and "C". Sights: The front sight is a blade perched atop a block sight. The rear sight is a three piece leaf with “V” notch . The three blades are graduated for distance. The second and third blades are marked with a 3 and a 5. Stock Configuration: The stock is one-piece smooth walnut with brass nose cap, three barrel bands, sling swivel on the front of the trigger guard and smooth iron buttplate. The Springfield Model 1855 was a rifle musket widely used in the American Civil War. It was manufactured by the Springfield Armory in Massachusetts and at the Harpers Ferry Armory in Virginia (modern-day West Virginia) along with independent contractors. The design exploited the advantages of the new conical Minié ball, which could be deadly at over 1,000 yards. About 60,000 of these rifles were made, and it was a standard infantry weapon for Union and Confederates alike, until the Springfield Model 1861 supplanted it, obviating the use of the insufficiently waterproof Maynard tape primer. Earlier muskets had mostly been smoothbore flintlocks. In the 1840s, the unreliable flintlocks had been replaced by much more reliable and weather resistant percussion cap systems. The smoothbore barrel and inaccurate round ball were also being replaced by rifled barrels and the newly invented Minié ball. This increased the typical effective range of a musket from about fifty yards (46 m) to several hundred yards. The Model 1855 had an effective range of 500 yards (460 m) and was deadly to over 1,000 yards (910 m). The barrel on the Model 1855 was .58 caliber, which was smaller than previous muskets. The Springfield Model 1816 and all of its derivatives up through the Springfield Model 1842 had been .69 caliber, but tests conducted by the U.S. Army showed that the smaller .58 caliber was more accurate when used with a Minié ball. The Model 1855 also used the Maynard tape primer, which was an attempt at improving the percussion cap system that had been previously developed. Instead of using individual caps which had to be placed for every shot, the Maynard system used a tape which was automatically fed every time the hammer was cocked, similar to the way a modern child's cap gun works. While the powder and Minié ball still had to be loaded conventionally, the tape system was designed to automate the placing of the percussion cap and therefore speed up the overall rate of fire of the weapon. The Maynard tape system gave the Model 1855 a unique hump under the musket's hammer. The weapon could also be primed in the usual way with standard percussion caps if the tape was unavailable. The Secretary of War at the time Jefferson Davis authorized the adoption of the Maynard system for the Model 1855. In the field, the Maynard tape primer proved to be unreliable. Tests conducted between 1859 and 1861 found that half of the primers misfired, and also reported that the tape primer springs did not feed well. The greatest problem was the actual tape itself. Despite being advertised as waterproof, the paper strips proved to be susceptible to moisture. An attempt was made to remedy this problem by making the tape primers out of foil, but despite the improvement this brought, the Ordnance Department abandoned the Maynard system and went back to the standard percussion lock in later muskets like the Model 1861. Most Model 1855s were used throughout the Civil War with standard percussion caps. Approximately 75,000 Model 1855 muskets were produced. The machinery to make the Model 1855s at Harpers Ferry was captured by the Confederate Army in early 1861. The captured machinery to produce rifle muskets was taken to Richmond Armory, where it formed the backbone of Confederate weapon manufacturing capability. The rifle machinery was taken to Fayetteville Arsenal, North Carolina where it too was put to use for significant arms production throughout the War. As a result of using the original arsenal machinery, the Richmond rifles and the Fayetteville rifles were two of the finest weapons produced by the Confederacy. The Model 1855 was in production until 1860 and was the standard-issue firearm of the regular army in the pre-Civil War years. The need for large numbers of weapons at the start of the American Civil War saw the Model 1855 simplified by the removal of the Maynard tape primer and a few other minor alterations to make it cheaper and easier to manufacture, thus creating the ubiquitous Model 1861. The Model 1855 was the best arm available at the beginning of the conflict as it took some time for the Model 1861s to be manufactured and actually reach the field. However, less than 80,000 Model 1855s had been manufactured by the start of the war. Some of them were destroyed when the Confederates captured the Harpers Ferry arsenal in April 1861, and several thousand more were in Southern hands. Approximately 10,000 rifles had also been shipped to California, and therefore were useless for the Union war effort. After the war, most model 1855s were taken home, or parts used for other projects. The primer system lock was unsuitable for conversion to a Trapdoor style rifle, and given the small number produced and how many were captured by the CSA, they are very hard to find. Serial Number: NSN | Caliber / Gauge: .58 cal. | LOP: 13.75" | Working Order: Firearm has not been tested | Background Check: Not Required | Keywords: Firearms, Guns, Firearm; Ref: BD3301

  • Provenance: Includes bayonet, scabbard, and ramrod.
  • Dimensions: 40" barrel
  • Circa: 17th Century
  • Condition: This rifle is in good condition with signs of wear commensurate with age and use. The barrel shows a cleaned white finish with freckling of light oxidation. The bore is bright and shiny with strong rifling, no visible erosion or pitting visible. The stock does show scratches on the right side near the nose cap. Please review the photos for details and condition.

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ADDRESS: 15210 N 99th Ave Sun City, AZ 85351
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The winning bidder / buyer is solely responsible for the shipping. All fees and costs associated with shipping are separate from the hammer price (winning bid), buyer's premium and sales taxes. The winning bidder / buyer has the right to arrange their own shipping with a 3rd party shipper at their own expense if you prefer to use a shipper other than Westside Mail Center. All packing and shipping from any company besides Westside Mail Center must be arranged and coordinated by the winning bidder / buyer within 5 days from the date of the sale or an additional storage surcharge could apply. The cost of an item can affect the price of insurance, packaging materials and method of shipping however, shipping costs are based on size, weight, dimension, location, speed as well as other factors. Winning bidders / buyers are responsible for payment of auction invoices regardless of the cost of shipping as the winning bidder / buyer is solely responsible for the shipping and any costs associated. Sales are final and items cannot be returned to Bradford's or refunded due to shipping.

3RD PARTY SHIPPERS
Bradford's can assist the winning bidder / buyer by arranging shipping and insurance through a 3rd party shipper however, the buyer is responsible for obtaining quotes and scheduling pick-up. Bradford's Auction Gallery reserves the right to ship parcels via our own in-house shipping methods, based on actual weight or dimensional weight (whichever is greater).

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LOCAL PICK UP - ARIZONA FIREARMS BUYERS
Arizona residents MUST pick-up in person at Bradford's Auction Gallery with a scheduled date of pick up. Details and information will be included on the winning bidders invoice. Any local Arizona Buyer of Post 1898 firearms MUST complete all necessary registration forms at Bradford's Auction Gallery. Local Buyers MUST have a Valid ARIZONA ID with Current Physical Address. If your Arizona ID does not reflect your current address you MUST provide us with a secondary form of ID that contains your correct address. Arizona Gun Dealers must have a signed copy of their Federal Firearms License in order to accept delivery of modern weapons. ANY DENIED BACKGROUND CHECK WILL RESULT IN A REFUND MINUS A 25% RESTOCKING FEE.

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Shipping for Out-of-State Buyers must be done through our 3rd Party Shipper Westside Mail Center. All firearms Post 1898 must be shipped to a valid holder of a Federal Firearms License on ALL Modern Weapons. The full cost of shipping and packing will be at the winning bidders / buyers expense. It is your responsibility to provide Westside Mail Center with the FFL dealer of your choice and they are responsible for sending the 3rd party shipper a copy of their FFL information. FIREARMS UNABLE TO BE SHIPPED TO YOUR STATE WILL RESULT IN A REFUND MINUS A 25% RESTOCKING FEE AND SHIPPING COSTS IF APPLICABLE.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $5
$100 $199 $10
$200 $999 $20
$1,000 $4,999 $50
$5,000 $9,999 $100
$10,000 + $200