Model 1863 Percussion Contract Rifle
| Model 1863 Percussion Contract Rifle | |
|---|---|
| Type | rifle (muzzle loader, percussion) |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1862 |
| Manufacturer | E. Remington & Sons |
| Developed from | M1841 Mississippi rifle |
| Unit cost | $17 USD |
| Produced | 1863–1864 |
| No. built | 12,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Cartridge | .58 caliber |
The Model 1863 Percussion Contract Rifle, commonly nicknamed the "Zouave", is a rifle that was manufactured by E. Remington and Sons for the United States Army during the American Civil War. It was manufactured to fulfill a government contract for rifles patterned after the M1841 Mississippi rifle.
Design
A "musket" (under 1860s terminology),[1] the firearm is a .58 caliber, muzzle loaded, percussion rifle.[2][3] The firearm's design was intended to create a more maneuverable gun for Union soldiers.[1] From the inception of its design, it was intended to be calibered in .58.[4] It incorporates several features of the M1841 Mississippi rifle (the so-called "Harpers Ferry" rifle),[4] especially elements of the long-range version of the M1841 Mississippi.[5] The Model 1863 Percussion Contract Rifle features brass mounts and a patch box.[5] It has a standard barrel length of 33 inches (840 mm).[3]
The firearm is reputed to have a handsome appearance, and to be of ergonomic proportions.[3]
Names
Contemporary official government documents referred to the rifle as the "Harpers Ferry Pattern".[2] The works of firearm historian George D. Moller refers to the rifle as the "Remington 1862 Contract Rifle", while Flayderman's Guide to Antique Firearms and Their Values referred to the firearm as the "1863 Contract Rifle".[5] The nickname "Zouave" and "Remington Zouave" is commonly used for the gun,[3][6] especially for those manufactured by Remington & Sons during the second fulfilled contract they fulfilled (which vary slightly from those manufactured under the initial contract).[3]
Production and history
Approximately 12,000 were produced,[2] which were delivered to the government between April 1863 and January 1864.[5]
The Ordinance Department of the United States Military had placed its initial order for 10,000 on July 30, 1861. The Remington brothers received the order around the time of the funeral of their father, family and company patriarch Eliphalet Remington.[3]
The order specified that the government wanted the manufacture of,
10,000 stands of arms, 58 inch caliber, and to have three-leaf rear sight and a cupped ramrod, with sword bayonet stud similar to those of the Harpers Ferry rifle model of 1855.[3]
The Remingtons accepted the order. However, they found themselves unable to quickly fulfill the order due to their machinery being in-use to fulfill revolver contracts. They successfully requested an extension of the contract deadline, and on August 11, 1862, the contract was re-issued; now specifying for the manufacture of 10,000 58-caliber Harpers Ferry pattern rifles with sword bayonets, furnished with regular appendages. The contract paid $17 per each completed arm. To complete the order, Remington & Sons acquired additional machinery. The manufacture took place at their factory in Ilion, New York. Remington & Sons sub-contracted with Collins & Co. for sword bayonets and scabbards.[3]
The first 500 completed arms were delivered on April 18, 1863. Approximately 1,000 were delivered per month until the contract period expired, with 7,501 delivered in total under the contract. On December 13, 1863, the military awarded Remington & Sons a further contract for 2,500 more rifles to be delivered by January 8, 1864. All 2,500 ordered rifles were delivered between December 23, 1863, and January 8, 1864. The rifles completed during the second fulfilled contract were slightly shorter and had only two barrel bands.[3]
The rifle is believed to have seen little use Civil War combat,[1] and was not issued by the Army to any of its units.[1][5] The exact users of the weapon and source of their "Zouave" nickname is unclear to modern historians.[2] There is not evidence to substantiate that the so-called America "Zouave" units active in the Civil War ever made use of this particular musket.[3][4] Many examples of the firearm remain in quality-condition, further evidencing the likelihood that they did not see significant use in combat.[3]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "1863 Zouave Musket Rifle .58 Cal Rifled R186306". Traditions Performance Firearms. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Remington 1863 Contract Rifle". National Museum of American History. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Wexler, Bruce (2015). 50 Guns That Changed America; An Illustrated Guide. New York City: Skyhorse Publishing. pp. 154–157. ISBN 978-1-4351-5686-9.
- 1 2 3 Ridgeway, Harry. "Rifled percussion musket, Remington 1863 Contract Rifle, Zouave . Manufactured by E. Remington & Sons, Ilion New York. Research Center: Weapon1560-Musket-Model-1863-Zouave". Relicman.com. Ridgeway Reference Library, Civil War plates and buckles.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Remington Model 1862 Contract Rifle, AKA Model 1863 Contract Rifle and "Remington Zouave"". HorseSoldier.com.
- ↑ "E. Remington and Sons Side by Side Hammer Shotgun". NRA Museum. Retrieved March 11, 2026.