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Title:	RIFLE/MUSKET -  MASSACHUSETTS RIFLE-MUSKET MODEL 1863 CONTRACT PERCUSSION .58
Maker/Manufacturer:	NORRIS & CLEMENT
Date of Manufacture:	1863-1864
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 8114
Measurements:	OL:142.2CM 56" BL:101.6CM 40"

Object Description:

MASSACHUSETTS RIFLE-MUSKET MODEL 1863 CONTRACT PERCUSSION .58
Manufactured by Samuel Norris & W.T. Clement, Springfield, Ma. - Standard Model 1861 contract percussion rifle-musket made for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Arm conforms to 1863 specifications. Three bands, screw fastened. Two-leaf rear sight. Tulip-head shaped cleaning rod. Massachusetts paid Norris $206,125 for delivery of 13,000 rifle-muskets.

Markings:
Lock: 1863 behind hammer. Eagle/US. S.N.& W.T.C./FOR/MASSACHUSETTS forward of hammer.
Barrel: V/P/Eaglehead. Date illegible.
Buttplate: US.
Stock: Two cartouches. AJN in rectangle/JH in oval.

Weapon donated to the Springfield Armory NHS by Tufts University (Victor A. Friend Collection) on 3 August 1979.

Friend's # 7-8 - "U.S. Model 1863 Rifled Musket. Marked 'S.N. & T.C. for Massachusetts.' The state contracted with S. Norris & W.T. Clement for 2,000 of these guns at $18.50 each. 58 calibre, triangular bayonet."

Springfield Republican, 5 May 1863 - "The state contract for 18,000 muskets of the latest Springfield pattern for the arming of the militia, authorized by act of the last legislature, has been awarded to Samuel Norris of this city and W.T. Clement of Northampton, whose bid was both the lowest in price and named the shortest time for the delivery of guns - of any handed in. The delivery of the arms is to be commenced about the 1st of August. The pattern of the other 2000 guns authorized has not yet been decided on, and of course the contract is not awarded. In the other contract the state is fortunate in securing the services of the responsible and competent gentlemen named above, who are both able and disposed to get up first-class arms."

Notes: "Norris, Samuel - Springfield, 1862-1869. Morris and W.T. Clement contracted with the State of Massachusetts in 1863 for 2,000 U.S. Model 1863 rifled Springfield muskets at $18.50. An additional 1,000 were added in 1864. These arms are marked 'S.N. & W.T.C. for Mass.' Norris was active alone as a maker of muskets and carbines, 1868/1869." - Robert E. Gardner

"For many years the probability existed that Norris & Clement had received two contracts form their state during 1863 and 1864, with the first specifying 2,000 rifle-muskets and the second, 1,000 more for a total of 3,000 arms.
This possibility has long been questioned by some authorities primarily in view of the number of Norris & Clement arms which exists today, and the fact that both Model 1861 and 1863 rifle-muskets, typical in all respects, are among the arms of this contractor. In light of the 'Adjutant General's Report' for the State of Massachusetts dated 1864, these questions seem justified, since the report of the Master of Ordnance noted '11,000 Springfield Rifle Muskets & Appendages; as having been purchased form S. Norris & W.T. Clement. The total amount paid this firm by the State was $206,112.50, or an average of nearly $18.75 per stand. This indicates quite conclusively that considerably more rifle-muskets were deliverd to Massachusetts by Norris & Clement than heretofore noted, with final deliveries coming fiscal 1864." - Reilly

"Massachusetts contracted with Samuel Norris and W.T. Clements of Springfield to furnish 13,000 Model 1863 Rifle Muskets. These are identical to the armory pattern and have locks marked 'S.N. & W.T.C./FOR/MASSACHUSETTS', in three lines in addition to the federal eagle over 'US'. The Model 1863 Rifle Musket is similar to the Model 1861 except that it has a nipple bolster without clean-out screw, which is flush with the lock's surface, and oval-surfaced, clamping type barrel bands. The tulip-headed ramrod has a straight shaft." - George Moller

"In 1863 Norris formed a partnership with W.T. Clement and they obtained a contact with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for 2000 Model 1861 Springfield pattern rifle-muskets at $18.50 per stand with bayonets. Later, 1000 more muskets were added to the contract. It thus appears that the firm made no less 11,000 and as many as 14,000 or more on state contract.
As late as 1869, NorrisWilliam T. Clement worked in Greenfield, Massachusetts, between 1836 and 1865, although during the last several years he was in obvious association with Samuel Norris. From 1866 through 1878 he worked in Northampton, Massachusetts. He is known to have made percussion rifles." - Hartzler, Yantz & Whisker

References:
Hartzler, Daniel D., Larry W. Yantz & James Biser Whisker. THE U.S. MODEL 1861 RIFLE-MUSKET. Tom Rowe Publications. 2000.
Moller, George D. MASSACHUSETTS MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS 1784-1877. Andrew Mowbray Inc. Lincoln, R.I. 02865.
Reilly, Robert. U.S. MILITARY SMALL ARMS 1816-1865. The Eagle Press. Baton Rouge, La. 1970.