VERY RARE “TYPE II” CONFEDERATE READ & WATSON RIFLE

VERY RARE “TYPE II” CONFEDERATE READ & WATSON RIFLE

Cal. 54 | S# 23 | 47.5″ overall, 32.5″ | 01-28229

This is a rare “large brass”, Type II rifle made by N. T. Read & John J. Watson of Danville, Virginia using obsolete Hall rifles & carbines which had been supplied under the Militia Act to the state of Virginia prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. These rifles represent an unusual conversion from breechloader to muzzleloader, instead of the more usual reverse. The repurposed Hall barrel retains the “NWP” on top right barrel breech. The Type II variation of this rifle has a heavy cast brass breech support significantly larger than that of the Type I. This breech piece is bulky, with a heavy rearward extending tang which covers the top of the wrist of the stock & the top front part of the comb of the stock. This example is internally marked numbered “23”. Matching Roman numeral “XX” observed on frame & trigger internally and externally on back of barrel breech. Type II Read & Watsons are quite scarce w/ the large brass breech, few known. Madaus & Murphy in their monumental text 1997 “Confederate Rifles & Muskets” dedicate a chapter to this maker. STATUS: ANTIQUE.