American Military Shoulder Arms, Volume 3: Flintlock Alterations and Muzzleloading Percussion Shoulder Arms, 1840-1865

Suhl Variant Model 1861 Rifle Musket

360.–1 The components of Suhl Variant Model 1861 rifle muskets were similar to, but not interchangeable with, Model 1861 rifle muskets made in the United States. Suhl Variant Model 1861 Rifle Musket  360. Foreign arms imported for use by Union armed forces during the Civil War are to be the subject of a later volume of this book. A small group of rifle muskets made in Suhl, Prussia, are included in this section because, unlike other imported military arms, they were not intended to be the military shoulder arm of a European country: they were specifically made for sale in the United States and conformed closely to the regulation U.S. Model 1861 rifle musket. The Ordnance Department purchased these rifle muskets on the “open market” from New York City arms importer William Hahn. The department’s “Statements of Accounts with Contractors” states that 179 “German Muskets, Springfield pattern, .58 caliber” were purchased on March 17, 1862. Another 302 muskets of the same description were purchased from Hahn on July 15, for a total of 481 rifle muskets. In his excellent book The Rifled Musket Claud E. Fuller states that the 1,673 rifles accepted by the U.S. from Schuyler, Hartley & Graham of New York City under that firm’s contract with the state of Ohio were probably Suhl-made rifle muskets of the U.S. Model 1861 configuration (pp. 220–21). A close scrutiny of the government’s records pertaining to this transaction indicates that 1,273 Suhl rifle muskets were not described as being of a U.S. pattern or configuration: they are described as “Suhl Long Enfield Pattern” arms.11 Springfield Armory Museum has four examples of these Suhl-made rifle muskets. The remaining 400 Suhl rifles and rifle muskets imported by Schuyler, Hartley & Graham are not identified as being of either American or British patterns . They were paid for at the rate of $14.00 each, which was less than Hahn received for the Springfield pattern Suhl arms he delivered. While it is possible that these 400 arms, imported between mid-February and early March of 1862 were Suhl Variant Model 1861 rifled muskets, we feel it is likely they were either Prussian .71 caliber Model 1809 muskets that had been rifled and sighted by that country’s government in 1855, or Prussian Model 1855 rifle muskets. Because of the strong similarities of the Suhl Variant Model 1861 rifle muskets to regulation rifle muskets described in section 257 of this volume, the 11 U.S. Archives: RG156 E152, Vol. 5, P. 20; Vol. 6, P. 1; RG 156 E164, Vol. 3, P. 41; and Vol. 4, P. 35; Benet Papers, Vol. 3, P. 956. Non-Armory-Pattern Muzzleloading Arms 443 information here pertains only to those specifications that differ. It should be noted that the components of the Suhl arms are not interchangeable with their American counterparts. General Information Finish: Bright, except for the internal lock parts and screws, which are blued. The mainspring and sear spring are bright. Barrel Contour: The breech flats extend farther forward than American-made rifle muskets, and the muzzle has a convex crown. Muzzle Extension: 3" Rear Sight: The Model 1858–style rear sight has a 19 /16" base that is secured to the barrel by a mortise with centering pin and a spanner screw. 360.–2 The rear sight is similar to the Model 1858, not the Model 1861, rear sight. Lock Lockplate: The lockplate is 11 /2" wide, which is 3 /16" wider than U.S. pattern; the narrow edge bevel is only 1 /8" wide. Mountings Trigger Guard Assembly: The bow is secured to the plate by unslotted round nuts. Forend Cap: The underside sculpting is less prominent than regulation rifle muskets. Other: The screw slots are narrower than those used in regulation arms. However, the threads of the tang and sidescrews, and the nipple, are the same as regulation pattern. Stock Wood: Maple rather than walnut Ramrod Channel: The ramrod channel is recessed deeper into the stock than U.S. rifle muskets. Part III 444 Markings Lockplate: Forward of Hammer: A spread eagle facing forward, which is similar to but not the same as the eagle found on regulation rifle muskets...