POTD: CS Richmond 1863 Lock

Welcome to at the moment’s Photo of the Day! Right here now we have a Civil Warfare percussion rifle with a Accomplice CS Richmond marked “humpback” lock dated 1863. Richmond Armory in Richmond, Virginia was the Confederacy’s major firearms manufacturing facility in the course of the Civil Warfare. After Virginia seceded in April 1861, Accomplice forces seized the U.S. Armory at Harpers Ferry and moved the equipment and tooling to Richmond. Manufacturing started in 1861 and continued by way of April 1865 when Richmond fell to Union forces.

Richmond Armory rifles have been copied from the U.S. Mannequin 1855 rifle-musket initially, then simplified to the Mannequin 1861 sample. “Humpback” lock plate refers back to the distinctive hump behind the hammer that housed the Maynard tape primer mechanism on the Mannequin 1855. Richmond saved this function even after eliminating the tape primer system, creating the attribute humpback profile.

1863 date locations manufacture throughout peak manufacturing. Armory produced roughly 37,000 rifles and rifle-muskets between 1861-1865, making them the most typical Accomplice-manufactured lengthy arms.

.58 caliber chambering was commonplace for each Union and Accomplice rifle-muskets, permitting captured ammunition for use by both aspect. 33-inch barrel is shorter than the usual 40-inch rifle-musket barrel, suggesting this may increasingly have been a shortened artillery or cavalry variant.

Interval star carved on the left inventory flat was probably added by a soldier throughout service. Troopers incessantly carved initials, unit designations, or ornamental marks throughout camp life between battles.

Most of our POTDs make the most of photographs from our mates at Rock Island Auction Company, the premier firearms public sale in the USA. Take a while to browse their current auctions – who is aware of, perhaps you’ll discover a piece of historical past to take house!

“Civil Warfare Percussion Rifle with Accomplice C.S. Richmond Marked ‘Humpback’ Lock.” Rock Island Public sale, www.rockislandauction.com/element/1049/3310/civil-war-rifle-with-confederate-cs-richmond-humpback-lock. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.

Sam.S

Author | TheFirearmBlog
Author | AllOutdoor.com Instagram | sfsgunsmith Outdated soul, licensed gunsmith, printed creator, avid firearm historical past learner, and appreciator of previous and distinctive weapons.