but came home with a Colt. Packed in whale oil. All the time scrubbing it I feared finding "Italy" stamped on it. Made in 1864 for NJ; never issued. Like NOS, new old stock, mint but no history to tell. I'm happy.
The butt plate is unscratched, never even been in a parade. Bore like new. Wood is sharp and clean. At least now it will get some light as a wall hanger.
IIRC - The Colt Special Musket was built on Machinery from the defunctRobbins & Lawrence Company, which had been bankrupted by expansion to build 'Enfields' for Britain, during the Crimean War.
I've been collecting and researching firearms for 20 years or so. And hearing about a find of an un-issued Civil War contract musket is amazing! That's incredible, you keep living right my friend! I see by your location makes this plausible, where I live was mainly uninhibited wilderness for hundreds of miles during the time of the Civil War, hehe
Underneath our starry flag...Civilize 'em with a Krag