Manufacturer: Harpers Ferry (c. 1857)
Model: M1855 "Minie" rifle
Caliber: 58 cal.
Barrel Length: 40 in.
OAL: 55.75 in.
Condition: Good-antique; wood stock has moderate wear w/ some splitting around the lockplate, under the belly & near the muzzle end of the forend; barrel & lockplate have mix of gray/brown patina & dark blue/black finish; scattered rust & pitting throughout; bore is dark & pitted; mechanically functional
Includes: Maynard Tape Primer mechanism; sling swivels; ramrod; 2-leaf rear sight (missing 1 leaf)
Marked: lockplate dated "1857" behind hammer and "U.S. / HARPERS, FERRY" in front of the Maynard door; eagle stamp on the door; barrel slant has "V / P" / eagle head; ; buttplate tang stamped "US"; right side of stock hand carved w/ "PK" and "LS" initials; faded stock cartouche on stock flat
Note from owner: U.S. M1855 rifle/musket. The first of the .58 cal. "minie" rifles, the M1855's saw hard use during the Civil War, in both northern and southern armies. It was equipped with the Maynard-patent tape priming device (much like a child's roll of caps); a device which was replaced by the standard percussion cap in 1861. Few of these rifles are found today.

Provenance: Property from the personal estate collection of iconic Texas businessman, civic leader and philanthropist Billy Joe Red McCombs (1927-2023) from his home in Olmos Park, Texas; previously on long-term loan to either San Antonio Academy or the Bexar County Courthouse; this lot is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity as property from the McCombs personal estate

No FFL NICS Check Required: Antique

reference #445