SOLD Navy Arms 1863 Springfield

[BigSkyRambler]

Navy Arms U.S. Springfield Model 1863 .58 musket. This rifle puzzles me, as it appears to be factory blued, as opposed to being in the white. Stamps are pristine. I am calling bluing 100%. Bore is MINT and rifle shows no indication of having been fired. This Model 1863 has variation II features like the band springs. It has a 40" round barrel marked on the left "Japan 0201" (early blued production?) and on the top "Navy Arms Co. Ridgefield N.J. U.S.A." The rifle is made by Miroku in Japan. The stock is made of straight grain European walnut and is in very good+ condition, with some minor scuffs on wrist. The lock plate is marked "U.S. Springfield - Navy Arms Co. Ridgefield N.J. U.S.A. - 1863. Oddly, the buttplate screws have Phillips heads. A single blued slotted screw of same size was in box. Comes in numbered factory box. Asking $850+Shipping.

 

[BigSkyRambler]

More pics.

 

[Conquerordie]

Wonder if someone blued it for hunting with? Either way nice example.

 

[BigSkyRambler]

Wonder if someone blued it for hunting with? Either way nice example.

Maybe. But this gun never left the house, it would seem. I wonder if the early models were blued, just because? Any really old timers from NSSA here or reenactors?

 

[appalichian hunter]

Never seen a blued one in 26 years of reenacting, or a original one blued.

 

[BigSkyRambler]

Never seen a blued one in 26 years of reenacting, or a original one blued.

With such a low serial number, 201, I wonder if first runs were blued and later ones correct white? Very likely from 60s or early 70s. Otherwise, someone went through a lot of what would seem to be pointless effort to have it professionally blued. I admit little experience with this model Wonder how hard to strip? Will entertain any reasonable offers.

 

[nkbj]

BigSkyRambler, can you say what the rate of twist, number of grooves and bore diameter are?

 

[ghostdncr]

Correct/original or not, that is one beautiful piece of work!

 

[dave951]

Mirokus were blued. In N-SSA they are known great shooters

 

[LME]

Mirokus were blued. In N-SSA they are known great shooters

Nothing wrong with rifles, shotguns and B.P. rifles made by Miroku. A lot of service men that got stationed in Japan bought Miroku shotguns Most of them were well pleased with them as I am. I didn't buy one due to lack of extra cash!

 

[Eras Gone]

I thnk it was blue after it left the factory. Someone did a professional job on it. The barrel and furniture would have been bright and the lock casehardened or bright when new,

 

[BigSkyRambler]

I thnk it was blue after it left the factory. Someone did a professional job on it. The barrel and furniture would have been bright and the lock casehardened or bright when new,

I guess it is the "why" that has me scratching my head.

 

[nightwolf1974]

Nothing wrong with rifles, shotguns and B.P. rifles made by Miroku.

+ 1 on that!

 

[Stantheman86]

I vaguely recall Dixie listing a Miroku 1863 with a case hardened lock and hammer, and possibly blued barrel , we're going back over 20 years.

The Phillips screws might mean someone took it apart and lost the one slotted head screw after bluing it , we'll never know. Could be that someone bought it in the white and liked Springfields and Enfields, so they blued it to make it look like both of them. It's a nice looking rifle.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Navy Arms U.S. Springfield Model 1863 .58 musket. This rifle puzzles me, as it appears to be factory blued, as opposed to being in the white. Stamps are pristine. I am calling bluing 100%. Bore is MINT and rifle shows no indication of having been fired. This Model 1863 has variation II features like the band springs. It has a 40" round barrel marked on the left "Japan 0201" (early blued production?) and on the top "Navy Arms Co. Ridgefield N.J. U.S.A." The rifle is made by Miroku in Japan. The stock is made of straight grain European walnut and is in very good+ condition, with some minor scuffs on wrist. The lock plate is marked "U.S. Springfield - Navy Arms Co. Ridgefield N.J. U.S.A. - 1863. Oddly, the buttplate screws have Phillips heads. A single blued slotted screw of same size was in box. Comes in numbered factory box. Asking $850+Shipping.View attachment 94507View attachment 94508View attachment 94509View attachment 94510View attachment 94511View attachment 94512View attachment 94513View attachment 94514View attachment 94515View attachment 94516

I had one of these years ago. Excellent rifle. Mine was finished bright with a blued rear sight and a case hardened lock. The stock was of Japanese cherry with some very pretty figure. And these rifles didn't have bulky stocks like the Italian rifles do.

 

[BigSkyRambler]

I vaguely recall Dixie listing a Miroku 1863 with a case hardened lock and hammer, and possibly blued barrel , we're going back over 20 years.

The Phillips screws might mean someone took it apart and lost the one slotted head screw after bluing it , we'll never know. Could be that someone bought it in the white and liked Springfields and Enfields, so they blued it to make it look like both of them. It's a nice looking rifle.

I think one of the local hardware stores has blued screws in their specialty fastener section. Or maybe I can buy a small quantity online. I could replace some crappy butstock screws on other rifles with them.

 

[Larry P]

I have virtually the same rifle but mine is the 1864 version and it was made in Japan as well and it is a Navy Arms. My barrel is in the white like the originals and the lock is blued. The workmanship is excellent and at first glance it almost appears original. I've had mine for about 35 years. Fun gun to shoot.

 

[kh54]

Has that stock been scorched or something? Or is it just the lighting?

 

[toot]

a steal at that price! NEW IN THE BOX!! they don't get any better than that!

 

[longtoothpard]

I had one that I bought in 1979. It was bright finish, even the lock. They did not case harden the locks until later. They are very desirable guns today. Hold onto it. (If it was me I'd strip the bluing off.)