Philadelphia Marked Rifle Muskets
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John Rice of Philadelphia, P.A. had originally contracted for 36,000 Standard Model 1861 rifle musket Springfield Pattern, cal., .58. This number was later reduced to 25,000 by the U.S. Investigating Commission. Rice was to subcontract out for all the parts. Jenks & Son were to make parts and C. H. Williams of Philadelphia were to make lockplates. There is no record of Rice
making deliveries of any muskets, but examples of specimens with PHILADELPHIA markings are sometimes observed. The lockplate is stamped with an Eagle between the hammer & the bolster with U.S. over PHILADELPHIA under the bolster and were dated behind the hammer, 1862. These muskets are sometimes attributed to Jenks & Son as the manufacturer since they had shops in Bridesburg & Philadelphia and until further information is discovered, it is unclear exactly who made them.
| Date of Contract |
No. Contracted |
Price of Contract |
No. Delivered |
| Unknown |
25,000 |
Unknown |
Very few |
| Philadelphia Musket Lockplate Markings |
|