Hello. I am looking at possibly purchasing this Colt 1861 rifle. It is dated 1863 on the side lock. This is new territory to me and need your help on evaluating this rifle. The bore is very nice, mechanics seem fine. Any help is welcome as I will be making an offer in the near future and appreciate your input.

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My advise would be to join the N-SSA bulletin board and post there in the civil war arms section. They have experts there, just like we do on the S&W forum.

You can even use my name as a reference. I don't think they will run you off.

Civil War Small Arms

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Is it a replica? I can not up size the photos to get a real good look. You could check out Dixie Gun Works (if it is a replica) to see prices. Dixie will be $1000.00 +- most likely new.

The suggestion to check out the NSSA is very good advice.

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A Snider squibbed n the Jungle

I could be wrong but it sure looks like the Colt 1861 Reproduction Musket. I own one myself. Bought it when they first came out. Here's a link to one for sale on Guns America.
colt 1861 commemorative 58 cal rifled musket

I agree that it looks pretty darned good to be 154 years old( if I did my math right).
It's still a great gun, even if a repro., but priced accordingly.
As stated, seek the advice of a pro.

It is an original gun.

Unfortunately, I do not have a good idea on the value but in my humble opinion it looks like an original 1861 Colt Special Contract Musket which was manufactured from 1861 to 1865. I believe that all of the reproduction 1861 Colt musket lock plates were marked 1861. From what I've read about 75,000 original Colts were manufactured. The 1861 Special Contract Muskets were also manufactured by Amoskeag (27,000), Lamson, Goodnow & Yale Co. (50,000) and E.G. Lamson & Company (>500). With less than 148,000 units made by all the contractors, I believe the 1861 Special Contract Musket is one of the less common variants to be found and would have an upwards effect on the price of the one you are looking at compared to the more common Springfield 1861 and Springfield 1863 Type I and IIs. I'd follow Muley Gil's advice and post to the NSSA site.

I have an original unrestored 1861 Special Contract Musket manufactured in 1863 by LG&Y pictured below that is unfired. I believe it to be one of 2500 shipped to the Territory of Montana in 1867 at the behest of the acting Governor, Thomas Francis Meagher.

A quick check of the Interwebs shows hi-res photos of genuine, original Colt contract muskets with dates of 1861, 1862, 1863 and 1864. Unlike the Springfield Armory, it looks like Colt used the year of manufacture rather than a version date.

I see that a really nice one went at auction for $3,000 plus fees. I consider that a bargain given its outstanding condition.

I have never seen a reproduction "Colt" 1861 Special Contract musket that wasn't marked 1861 on the lock plate. Every one I've looked at on the webs and in person has been stamped 1861 and I doubt that when Colt had them reproduced that they specified different year markings. Colt marketed them as the "Colt Special Model 1861 Contract Rifle-Musket".

Another detail to separate the reproductions from the originals, is the "Colt" reproduction rifles were serial numbered on the right side of the barrel just forward of the nipple cone which the OP's doesn't have. I could be wrong about the dates on the "Colt" reproductions though and if so I'd like to see a link.

The original 1861 Special Contract muskets by all the different manufacturers including Colt are seen with various year markings on the lock plate as well as one on the barrel. I believe they were stamped with manufacture date not model designation and I've seen them with 1861 through 1864 dates. All of them I've looked at have matching year dates on lock plates and barrels.

Look on the bottom of the trigger guard. If there is a Sam Colt signature or evidence of metal removal, it's a reproduction.

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Foster Positivity.

It is a modern Italian replica of high-quality.

But don't pay the much-higher price of the same gun as an original.

Moosedog, it may take a little while to get more info on the N-SSA board. We have two large shoots every year, one in the spring and one in the fall, and the Spring National is this week. Our members travel to the Winchester, Virginia area range from all over the country.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!