.54 caliber. 33" round barrel secured by two flat, spring retained brass barrel bands. SN: NSN. Browned barrel, color casehardened lock and hammer, brass furniture, smooth walnut stock. Single shot percussion muzzleloading rifle. Lock marked in four horizontal lines below the bolster ROBBINS / & / LAWRENCE / US and in two horizontal lines at the tail WINDSOR, VT / 1851. Breech plug tang dated 1851 as well, with left quadrant of breech marked US / JPC / P with left flat sub-inspected JH. Counterpane of stock opposite lock stamped with crisp script cartouches, with the first appearing to be the JPC of arsenal sub-inspector James P Chapman and the second being the WAT of Ordnance Officer William Anderson Thornton. This rifle appears to be one of 1,742 "Windsor Rifles fitted for bayonets supplied with sights and put in order" that were modified for the State of Massachusetts by the A.J. Drake company in 1861. These guns were left in their original .54 caliber configuration but had a three-leaf US Pattern 1858 rear sight added, a musket style front sight/angular bayonet lug added, with the original brass sight removed and were equipped with an 18.5" bladed socket bayonet produced by the Bay State Tool Company that is now known to collectors as the "Drake" pattern bayonet. Many of these guns were subsequently unit marked on their butts with the Massachusetts regiment to which they were issued, for example the 51st MASS, as well with the company letter and the soldier number. These same alphanumeric marks, like "C 27" were often applied to the bayonets as well as a mating mark. This rifle does not have the regimental markings but does conform to the "Drake" alteration pattern with the 1858 pattern rear sight, which is missing the 300-yard leaf, the combination musket front sight and bayonet lug and is otherwise unaltered from its original configuration. It retains the sling swivels and its full-length brass tipped trumpet head ramrod. The spare nipple remains in the patchbox.

Fine. Barrel retains some of the browned finish with some thinning, wear and loss, most noticeably around the muzzle area where a socket bayonet was likely attached for a long time and the forward half of the barrel. There is also a thumb sized patch of surface oxidation and roughness on the obverse between the bands. Lock and hammer with traces of case colors and a streaky gray and blue patina. Brass furniture with an attractive golden patina, small parts with at least some of their blue remaining. Markings clear and crisp in metal and wood. Mechanically functional, fine bright bore with strong rifling. Rear sight missing the 300-yard leaf. Stock very crisp with some scattered bumps, dings and mars and some more noticeable dings at the obverse wrist from having been hung on a wall with metal hooks.