Civil War era rifle researched by museum

A muzzle-loading Civil War infantry rifle was recently brought to the Sweetwater County Historical Museum in Green River for examination and research through the museum’s Vintage Firearms Research Program.

Museum staff determined the rifle to be a very fine .58-caliber Model 1861 Springfield, manufactured in 1862. About 660,000 Model 1861s were produced by Springfield between 1861 and 1865 at a cost of $15 to $20 apiece. A slightly modified successor, the Model 1863, was made in similar quantities from 1863 to 1865.

A mainstay for the Union Army, the Model 1861 was a large weapon - nearly...