An exceedingly scarce and identified example of a U.S. Model 1855 Rifle, in the iron-mounted “Type II” configuration, with saber bayonet and leather sling. The rifle bears all of the hallmark stamps and marks of government production, reading “U.S. Harper’s Ferry” in front of the primer case and “1861” behind it; the primer case cover bears a Federal eagle. The butt stock is legibly carved “N. Woodcox” and the bayonet bears the serial “E 6.”

Famously produced by the U.S. Arsenal at Harper’s Ferry before it fell into confederate hands, many earlier-production rifles of this model were lost after retreating U.S. officials set fire to the arsenal. At least 2,285 of the “Type II” examples had been sent away to Columbian Arsenal in Washington D.C. prior to the conflagration and were subsequently issued to local militia units before being returned in July 1861.

This fine example with matched bayonet is identified to Nelson C. Woodcox, a private in Company E, 11th Indiana Infantry, known as "Wallace’s Zouaves" after its first colonel, Lew Wallace (who later sat on the courts-martial of both the Lincoln assassination conspirators and Andersonville prison commandant Henry Wirz). Woodcox himself enlisted in the 11th Indiana Infantry in August, 1861 following the regiment’s initial 3-month service, and was discharged for disability in December of that year while his regiment was encamped in Paducah, Kentucky.

A very fine example with a crystal clear, solid identification to a western Zouave regiment.

Provenance: Previously sold in Heritage Auctions' 2007 June Civil War Grand Format Auction #663, lot #72255 ($10,157.50).

[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Firearms, Guns, Arms, Armaments, Rifles, Revolver, Pistols, Longarms, Carbines, Militaria]