M68 Rifle, SN29828

M68 Rifle, SN29828

It is assumed that this M68 Rifle, Serial No. 29828, dated 1870, underwent a refurbishing by the government or others sometime after its manufacture. The first tell-tale of this is the stock that is void of any inspection marks or cartouches, indicating a field or arsenal replacement. The stock has been sanded and reoiled somewhere along the way. Furthermore, the original stock for this rifle would have been a civil war stock cut down for use with this model arm; a civil war stock would have a spoon to retain the ramrod, which this stock does not have. The breech block and receiver were originally colored by case-hardening in oil, which gives a black color to the metal. But they may be blued in this rifle; if they are they show excellent workmanship as the barrel at the breech is “in the white”. In this arm, similar treatment has been given to the lockplate and hammer which were originally color-casehardened. With this rifle there is no way to prove or disprove that the re-work was done by the government or that it is a “put together” piece, though the quality of workmanship is a strong indicator it was done at a US arsenal. The bore has some minor pitting but is very shootable after the rifle has been checked out by a qualified gunsmith. The rifle is being sold as a collector's piece.

$1700 + $50 S/H

Contact H.T. Rea at HTRea@aol.com

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