Colt Contract Rifle Muskets
.
Colts Patent Firearms Mfg. Co. of Hartford Conn., contracted with the War Dept. to manufacture Special Model 1861
rifle muskets. All rifle muskets delivered were of the Special Model 1861 type. These arms were marked on the lockplates in front of the hammer,
U.S. over COLTS Pt F.A. Mfg. Co. over HARTFORD Ct in three lines, and were dated behind the hammer, 1863.
The eagle was stamped on the bolster face and not on the lockplate itself. A number of muskets have the word STEEL stamped
on the left barrel flat near the breech. Colt also supplied Model 1841 altered rifles and a large quantity of rifle-muskets imported from England
(POTTS & HUNT) for whom Colt was agent, to the War Dept. Also manufactured were 386,417 revolvers and about 7000 revolving
rifles and carbines.
| Date of Contract |
No. Contracted |
Price of Contract |
No. Delivered |
| July 5th, 1861 |
25,000 |
$20.00 |
25,000 |
| June 5, 1863 |
50,000 |
$20.00 |
12,500 |
| March 19, 1864 |
37,000 |
$20.00 |
37,000 |
| Colt Special Model 1861 Lockplate Markings |
|
| Potts Hunt Lockplate Markings |
|