Colt Reproduction M1861 musket?

[jonnyo55]

I paid $900 for mine a couple of years ago after not being able to find one for any less...they're not exactly common. I liked the Colt name on it, and the wood and level of finish seemed to be a cut above most of the Euro-imports. No Italian proofs, either!

Something I've learned is that the Colt 1861 special musket was actually the British Enfield design modified for US production; there are quite a few differences between it and the M1861 or M1864 US muskets.

If you want to know or buy more, a source you MUST check out is Lodgewood Mfg. in Whitewater, WI. Dave has forgotten more than I know about 19th century American arms, and he always has a nice selection of items for sale. He also offers a complete "de-farbing" service for the more common European imports. I don't have his email handy, but it jumps right up on Google. Enjoy!

[Mickey Christian]

Suggestion....Having shot both Enfield and Springfields the Spring fields are MUCH more comfortable to shoot.
The Enfield stock is too straight so bangs you cheek pretty hard.

[dave]

I had one for a while, but, traded it off a couple of years ago for $750. It was a 'closet queen' I was not planning on using.

They were made in Italy for 'Colt Black Powder Signature Series' and came slid in a very mundane/unmarked cardboard box with brittle Styrofoam box & cover. (Just fuctional packaging for transport and no big deal IMHO). They were available around 1994-2002, IIRC.

I believe the 'Colt Series Special Rifled-Musket' is North-South Skirmish Assoc. approved for competition. They deserve to be used. I think performance and price should be comparable with other Italian reproductions of C.W. rifles like Springfields and Richmond muskets. Quality is decent. They were made under license (not made by Colt), have metric threads, and lock internals, hammer & bolster deviate from original. Buy the gun and not the Colt name.

All the Colt Signature series pistols were also made in Italy, without finish or markings. Colt polished, finished and stamped markings on them only. I do not know anything about the rifles but the pistols bring a hefty profit over original cost and are collectable in their own right. Colt probably demanded certain standards from the factory (Uberti?) but they did not retool for a limited run of these old guns!