Model 1868 I just found at a yard sale...

[Fred]

[Fred]

[Fred]

[Fred]

[Fred]

[Fred]

[Edatbeach]

The M1855 with "US" mark is correct. The armory had thousands available as they modified rifle muskets to breechloaders.

[Fred]

Thanks Edabeach! I appreciate the information.

[rayg]

Fred, that's a nice looking 68. Not many around as nice as that one is, Ray

[Fred]

Thanks Ray!

[Fred]

Here are some photo's of the only two or three stamps on the rifle. Nothing anywhere else
Somebody has worked the face of the breechblock down using a punch.

[Fred]

[Dick Hosmer]

I wonder what THAT was all about?

[butlersrangers]

Does the small end of the 'clearing-rod' show any abuse?

[Fred]

No, but it would be hardened and the face of the breech block would be a bit softer I believe, so you might have just hit on what happened. Although Why is still a mystery. Looks as if a kid or someone had bounced the inverted rod off of the breechblock face. Maybe a FNG or a Recruit. The firing pin tip is OK, so the hammer must've been pulled back a notch. It was probably a Kid playing with it.

Oh well, the whole thing is screwed now. I'm just going to switch the breechblock with another and throw this one away...

NOT!