Civil war musket question.

bishop

Hi folks. I own a Remington model 1863 contract rifle musket. From my research the are also called "Zouave".I would like to know more about the history of this gun. For example, i have learned that they never made it to front line troops during the war, and yet are considered well made and accurate. Approx 12000 were built, so who were they issued to? Thanks for any info you might have.

captkirk3@dslextreme.com

Remington Rifle Model 1862 was known as the "Zouave"...58 Caliber, marked "Remington's Illion, N.Y.,

Captain Kirk, Tech Staff<P><BR>
This info comes from 'Guns of The World' by Bonanza Books....Peterson Publishing Co.

Xracer

From the 8th Edition of "Flayderman's"

"Remington Model 1863 Percussion Contract rifle, a.k.a. "Zouave Rifle." Made c. 1862-1865. Total quantity 12,501.

58 caliber; single shot muzzleloader. 33" round barrel (with either 3-groove or 7-groove rifling) fastened by two barrel bands. Large lug at right side of barrel near muzzle for attaching saber type bayonet.

Brass mountings. Blued barrel, casehardened lock with all brass parts finished bright. Tulip head steel ramrod. Walnut stock. Brass patchbox at right side of butt.

Lock markings: Ahead of hammer American eagle over small U.S.; in two lines under bolster REMINGTON'S/ILION, N.Y.; at rear horizontally dated 1863; breech of barrel marked with date and VP (eaglehead) proof with inspector initails and STEEL. Tang of buttplate is marked U.S.

One of the best made and designed military arms of the Civil War era. The origin of the name "Zouave" for this rifle has yet to be revealed. In official documents and the .S. contract it was termed "Harpers Ferry Pattern." The great mamority of them fiund in higher grades of condition suggest they were not issued; their usage remains a mystery:

Values--Very Good $2,250 Exc. $3,500"

captkirk3@dslextreme.com

"Zouave' Made circa 1862 to 1865......Wonder what the 1862 model was called...?..Here's some interesting information..On March 5,1861 Simon Cameron, Lincoln's 1st Secretary of War found the War department in chaos.when Lincoln took office as President. The former President Buchanan's anxiety to preserve the Union peacefully, Preperations for war had been kept to a minimum lest they offend the Southern states, and reserve supplies of munitions in Southern arsenals had been taken over by seceding states.....In This Way some of the Remington-made Harper's Ferry Rifles fell into the hands of the Conferates and the fall of Harpers Ferry left Remington no choice but to purchase an old Hotel and convert it into a Gun making Plant to build the Rifle Musket in question, as Remington was under contract with the war Department...Flaydeman wrote quite a spread on the 58 Caliber Rifled Musket on Page 463 in His 6th Edition...which makes for interesting reading...and The book of Remington by Alden Hatch makes the Topic even more interesting...If Remington began the manufaturing of the 'viz a viz' Harpers Ferry Musket in Late 1861 and called it the Model 1862 Zouave...and the waters get muddier at this point...hence when You read the Flayderman account and the Remington and what Fladerman says about experts are still arguing over the dates of 1861, Remington recieving a contract and 1862 as start of production and The Musket being called Model 1863.....Zouave....I tend to agree that the Model 1862 is the True date of the 1st Zouave... Interesting Topic for sure...Ya gotta love this business...!

Captain Kirk, Tech Staff