Original U.S. Civil War Rare Remington Contract Model 1863 'Zouave' Percussion Rifle with Very Good Bore - dated 1863

Item DescriptionOriginal Item: Only One Available. Arguably one of the finest made, and most attractive firearms to have emerged from the American Civil War was the Remington Model 1863 Rifle, Also known as the 'Zouave Rifle'. The .58-caliber muzzle loading 1863 Remington was referred to as 'Harpers Ferry Pattern' in official Army documents from the period. Although over 12,000 were manufactured, it is unknown what regiments were issued the arms, most likely due to the innocuous nomenclature often used with the arms, and being classed similar to the Model 1841 'Mississippi' Rifle. This example looks to have seen a good amount of use, and really looks the business. The lock plate is only lightly worn, and still features a crispFederal eaglewith aU.S.surcharge to the right side. The maker information is stamped under the eagle:-REMINGTON'SILION, N.Y.On the tail of the lock plate is stamped the date1863, right in period. The barrel unfortunately looks to have suffered relatively extensive oxidation near the cap bolster, and cleaning has removed all of the markings on the breech area, of which there are usually many. We also checked the left side of the stock, however it definitely looks to have been refinished, so we were not able to see any markings.The Rifle is in its original .58 caliber, and the bore is in excellent condition, showing a bright finish with crisp lands and grooves. We noticed just a bit of past oxidation and fouling, now cleaned away, though the rifling is eight groove, not the usual seven or three groove we usually see on these. We do know that the 'Zouave' rifles varied quite a bit in specifications, so this may be normal, and is definitely worthy of further research. The lock is in very good condition, holding at half cock and firing at full, though the mainspring is a bit weak. The cap nipple cone is in good shape, and looks to be original.Overall condition is very good, showing a lovely aged patina. The brass fittings show a lovely lightly aged patina, looking to have been cleaned a bit when the stock was restored. The metalwork shows a good amount of wear on the barrel from cleaning off past oxidation, and the original finish is all but gone. It has a rear sight, but currently the leaves are frozen, and we did not want to try forcing them. Both sling swivels are present and move well, and the ramrod is an aftermarket replacement with no threads on the end. The stock definitely shows restoration and refinishing. We can see some past repairs around the lock area, and what looks like a repaired crack on the underside running forward from the trigger guard.A very nice example of a hard to find Civil War 'Zouave' rifle with a great bore and some interesting characteristics. Ready to research and display!Specifications:-Year of Manufacture: 1863Caliber: .58' - Eight Groove RiflingCartridge Type: Minié Ball and PowderBarrel Length: 33 InchesOverall Length: 49 InchesAction type: Side Action LockFeed System: Muzzle LoadedEliphalet Remington II was born in Suffield, Connecticut on October 28, 1793. His father, Eliphalet Remington, moved his family from Connecticut to the Mohawk River Valley in 1800, where he cleared enough land for a small farm, built a two-room cabin that was later replaced by a larger home, and, along with others who had also moved to the region from Connecticut, established the town of Litchfield. Eliphalet Remington Sr. also owned an iron forge. Here he both fabricated and repaired tools, equipment, and hardware, and Lite, as Eliphalet II was nicknamed, worked alongside him and learned the trade as well.The younger Remington had the opportunity to examine various long arms that were owned by local residents, and in 1816, he decided that he was capable of manufacturing a good rifle barrel. This he proceeded to do, and he took the finished product to a local gunsmith for boring and rifling. Lite then fitted a lock, stock, and furniture, and upon completion, he found that it shot well. After showing his new gun to area residents, he soon had a large number of orders for gun barrels. These were octagonal in shape, and as with his initial effort, boring and rifling was done by a gunsmith in nearby Utica.The completion of the Erie Canal in 1825 and the establishment of railroads soon thereafter provided an economic boost to the region. Remington's rifle barrel works expanded as well. By 1828, he had established his own forge in Ilion, and he soon came to dominate the local trade, producing over 8,000 barrels per year for gunsmiths who would do final rifling and fitting. In 1844, Remington's oldest son, Philo, joined him in his business. This was reflected in the firm's name, which became E. Remington and Son.By the mid-1850s, his two other sons, Samuel and Eliphalet III, had also joined the company, and the name changed yet again. In addition to gun barrels, E. Remington and Sons also manufactured plows, mowing machines, cotton gins, and firefighting equipment. In later years, their product line expanded to include bicycles, sewing machines, and typewriters. Remington's involvement in the manufacture of completed firearms came in 1848, when the company received a contract for the completion of 1,000 Jenks breechloading carbines for the U.S. Navy. In addition, Remington took over a defaulted contract from another manufacturer for the production of 5,000 U.S. Model 1841 'Mississippi' rifles.The business expanded through the 1850s, and handgun production began in 1857 with the introduction of the Remington-Beals pocket revolver. The coming of the Civil War naturally brought about a dramatic increase in the demand for firearms, and Remington's production also increased to keep pace. During this period, the company manufactured both .36 and .44 caliber revolvers, as well as Model 1863 Percussion Contract Rifle, popularly known as the 'Zouave' rifle.NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.Shipping RestrictionsThis product is available for international shipping.Payment OptionsNot eligible for payment with Paypal or AmazonLegal InformationIMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). 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