1863 US Bridesburg

[martin08]

Have to admit, I have very little knowledge of black powder firearms. But I knew enough to pick this one up for $160 OTD.

It's an 1863 US Bridesburg .58 cal Civil War musket, subcontracted by Bridesburg Machine Works, owner Alfred Jenks & Son of Pennsylvania, for the Springfield Armory. It is built on the same specs as the 1861 Springfield, with a few minor changes such as the barrel band springs.

This one isn't going to be operational any time soon. The hammer retaining bolt is broken, rear sight is missing, and ramrod is absent. The nipple is quite deteriorated, middle sling swivel is gone, has a pinned stock repair behind the hammer, and spiders made a home in the bore (may have had rifling removed?). But it does still set in both half and full cock positions.

Markings are VP over eagle head on the left rear barrel. The 1863 stamp on top of the barrel is all but pitted away. U stamps on the barrel bands, and US marked buttplate are legible. And the lockplate is still fairly crisp, with 1863, Eagle Stamp, and US Bridesburg present. The stock cartouches seem to be sanded away, but overall, the wood is quite nice.

Anyway, I've rambled on enough. Pics next, and thanks for looking.

[desdem12]

Wow that is a nice one. Might need to pick that nipple a little before capping it.

[Junk Yard Dog]

[Junk Yard Dog]

Deal of the year.

[martin08]

blah blah blah, boy did I ever cross post, dang ol cut and paste:P.

Hey. I'm not ready to put them up for sale!






Methinks there is a little "crossthreading" happening here.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Relics of the States War in any condition are worth their weight in gold, even if in dug up condition. This one looks perfect, just the right patina, nice wood, mostly intact, the bit parts missing can be had from Dixie Gun Works.

[musketjon]

Make sure the "U" on the barrel bands are on the right side (as in right, not correct) facing the muzzle. The "U" actually stands for "UP". The bands are actually tapered to match the taper of the stock and barrel. That $160 didn't even pay for the lock. You scored BIG time.
Jon

[martin08]

Make sure the "U" on the barrel bands are on the right side (as in right, not correct) facing the muzzle. The "U" actually stands for "UP". The bands are actually tapered to match the taper of the stock and barrel. That $160 didn't even pay for the lock. You scored BIG time.
Jon

Thanks for the tip. Bands now flipped.

[Longcolt44]

Great find. We have all joked about a bore so dirty it had cobwebs but this is the first time I have really seen one.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Great find. We have all joked about a bore so dirty it had cobwebs but this is the first time I have really seen one.

Worst case of that I ever had was the 1868 Springfield, it had been up on a wall for over a century, while the outside had been wiped down from time to time, the bore was near one solid dust bunny with dead spiders mixed in.

[bunkysdad]

Some of those spiders may have voted for Ike!

[martin08]

Some of those spiders may have voted for Ike Grant!

Fixed it for ya.

[martin08]

Every once in a great while, a restoration effort is worth the undertaking.

This may, or may not, be one of those worthy endeavors, but the U.S. Bridesburg now has an original hammer retaining screw, middle band with sling swivel, ramrod, rear sight base (broken leaf), and a clean-out plug that is in slightly better shape.

It will probably take another 150 years for them all to look perfectly matched in patina! But it beats the heck out of replacing with repro parts.

It is satisfying. The middle band is somewhat off color, as the corrosion is far more advanced. And the ramrod does have some serious pitting. But still, far better than nothing! Now, to search out an original sight leaf.

[musketjon]

Need to get the proper "tulip head" ram rod for it. Try S&S Firearms in New York, or Lodgewood for an original. The rest looks really good now. Just an FYI--Bridesburg made the second most amount of rifle-muskets behind Springfield.
I have a Wm Mason 1863 contract rifle-musket that I bought 35+years ago. Only 30,000 total produced. I've only seen 2 in my collecting years. It is all original, still has all of the rifling intact and it will kill a 1 gallon milk jug at 100 yards all day long as long as I do my part. I shoot it competitively in the CWSA--sold all my repros years ago. The originals just shoot better and FEEL better in your hands.
It's the top one in the picture.
Jon