Springfield Zouave musket

[Huttles94]

Just browsing around on a certain free ad website and found what looks to be a nice US civil war musket called a Springfield Zouave. I am familiar with Springfield but never heard of a Zouave musket before so I decided to look them up and found out about their history ect but my question is, the one of said free ad site has a V sight similar to the Indian P53 muskets whilst all the other Zouave muskets I have found had adjustable rear sights, cannot find another that is exactly like the one for sale. Were there varying types of sights for these muskets?

I know next to nothing about American Civil war muskets and was hoping someone could fill in the blanks for me.

Cheers

[tacfoley]

The so-called Zouave rifled musket was produced by Remington Arms company at Ilion, New York, by contract with the US Government. It was intended for the US Artillery Department and never distributed to any Civil War army division. The good looks and fine features of the gun were discovered by shooters and collectors during the Civil War centennial and it was highly sought-after. The most common replica is made by Pedersoli - 1863 Zouave - and features brass furniture, the distinctive ramrod with the tulip tip and the three leaf rear sight. There are two sling swivels, one fits under the front band and the other one fit in front of the trigger guard. The lock shows the Eagle stamp and the US letters in front of the hammer.

Not sure what you might have found, though, seeing as the sight is different. Is your example a smooth-bore, perhaps? I've seen replicas of the Springfield with simple sights for smooth-bore shooting - in fact, there's one in our LGS.

I've fired the real thing, and it was VERY comfortable to shoot from standing, on account of the marked drop to the heel of the stock, but then, it was made for standing shooting.

[Huttles94]

The so-called Zouave rifled musket was produced by Remington Arms company at Ilion, New York, by contract with the US Government. It was intended for the US Artillery Department and never distributed to any Civil War army division. The good looks and fine features of the gun were discovered by shooters and collectors during the Civil War centennial and it was highly sought-after. The most common replica is made by Pedersoli - 1863 Zouave - and features brass furniture, the distinctive ramrod with the tulip tip and the three leaf rear sight. There are two sling swivels, one fits under the front band and the other one fit in front of the trigger guard. The lock shows the Eagle stamp and the US letters in front of the hammer.

Not sure what you might have found, though, seeing as the sight is different. Is your example a smooth-bore, perhaps? I've seen replicas of the Springfield with simple sights for smooth-bore shooting - in fact, there's one in our LGS.

I've fired the real thing, and it was VERY comfortable to shoot from standing, on account of the marked drop to the heel of the stock, but then, it was made for standing shooting.

Thank you for that information. The one on free ads (here is a link: https://www.freeads.co.uk/uk/buy-sel...w#.XdQo4Oj7QuU) has had some work done on the wood work, and I can faintly see a eagle on the lock but that is it. If the link does not work simply go to free ads and search for springfield and it will come up. Looks like a nice piece (Though with the engraving I guess the collective value is diminished) but the rear sight is just puzzling to me.

[tacfoley]

Thank you for that information. The one on free ads (here is a link: https://www.freeads.co.uk/uk/buy-sel...w#.XdQo4Oj7QuU) has had some work done on the wood work, and I can faintly see a eagle on the lock but that is it. If the link does not work simply go to free ads and search for springfield and it will come up. Looks like a nice piece (Though with the engraving I guess the collective value is diminished) but the rear sight is just puzzling to me.

The ad SHOULD saw if it's a smoothbore or a rifle - as you know, the law treats them quite differently.

[enfield2band]

I would be wary of the Zouave with a "V" sight and look into it before purchasing it.

Is it possible that the lock and stock are off a Zouave and a barrel has been substituted because it fits?

The Zouave is the French equivalent of our .577" Enfield and was designed for long range shooting. I have not heard of them being produced as a smoothbore, which the one you are looking at may be with a fixed sight.

[tacfoley]

I would be wary of the Zouave with a "V" sight and look into it before purchasing it.

Is it possible that the lock and stock are off a Zouave and a barrel has been substituted because it fits?

The Zouave is the French equivalent of our .577" Enfield and was designed for long range shooting. I have not heard of them being produced as a smoothbore, which the one you are looking at may be with a fixed sight.

Armisport produce[d] both the Springfield and the Zouave three-banders as smoothbores, the former as a carbine. Our LGS had one of each and still has the Springfeld.

[tacfoley]

I would be wary of the Zouave with a "V" sight and look into it before purchasing it.

Is it possible that the lock and stock are off a Zouave and a barrel has been substituted because it fits?

The Zouave is the French equivalent of our .577" Enfield and was designed for long range shooting. I have not heard of them being produced as a smoothbore, which the one you are looking at may be with a fixed sight.

Good post.