(2001). Table of Contents. The last one I did had printing on it . If it was manufactured between 1860-1864, chances are pretty high that it was used in some capacity in the war. The most widely accepted figure estimates 620,000 men lost their lives in the four years of war. List of Civil War Rifles and Their Unique Features, Civil War Weapons: A Closer Look at History, Winchester Firearms Values of Antique Models, Civil War Weapons: An Illustrated Guide to the Wide Range of Weaponry Used on the Battlefield, Civil War Firearms: Their Historical Background and Tactical Use. Conically-shaped with a hollow base, the Mini ball could be easily loaded but expanded upon firing to fit the rifling grooves. Were really interested to find out what it is and maybe gleen some additional history that might be associated with her family. I can't tell from the pictures if the barrels are Damascus or not. Black powder fouled the rifling in the barrel and produced thick clouds of smoke which hung about the battlefield and obscured targets. Rifles made this type of fighting obsolete because of their much greater range. How John Roberts Saved the GOP (and Sparked Its Civil War) - Yahoo JavaScript is disabled. There was also the Model 1859 Sharps rifle, a single-shot breechloader. We auctioned off the beauty for $21,850. John Russell is a Civil War Historian and Collector who brought a historic Enfield rifle to show off at a Texas Independence Day Party in late February. Both Union and Confederate armies used this accuracy to devastating effect, flinging the .58-caliber, 500-grain Mini balls at each other from up to 500 yards out. At 56 inches long and weighing nine pounds, the Model 1861 was a single-shot, muzzleloading rifle that used the percussion cap mechanism to fire a .58 caliber Mini ball. Model 1855 rifles were fairly common. Fact #5: Like previous wars, Civil War artillery could fire multiple types of ammunition. The Spencer had an excellent reputation in combat, with a sustainable rate of fire of 20 rounds per minute. The Civil War era is an antique arms collector's dream for the same reason it was a nightmare for the Ordnance Department: a dizzying array of weapons and ammunition. Whether the Civil War gun youre in the market for is a rifle, carbine, or revolver, you hopefully now know a little more about which ones to purchase for your taste and budget. Identifying A Firearm | American Civil War Forum Smooth-bore muskets were cast aside for updated rifled muskets (which still had the same components as a traditional musket but featured boring in the barrels that aided in keeping ammunition going in a straighter, more consistent, line upon exit).