Very Rare Civil War Merrill Breech-Loading Rifle with Original Bayonet 1 of 770

Serial #14184, .54 Caliber, 33" barrel with a fine, bright bore that has a small amount of freckling within the grooves at the muzzle. This is an 1863-dated rifle, and is one of only 770 Merrill rifles purchased by the US Government during the Civil War. It has an overall dull gray patina on the metal, with thin plum-brown freckling throughout, all assembly numbers are matching ("26"), and all of the factory markings are still legible. Traces of the original blue remains on the folding rear sight leaves. The action is of the later type, and has a rounded, button style latch for the breech lever rather than the earlier grooved ears. The breech lock-up is still firm, and the action is still fully functional. The walnut stock is in very good shape, having only minor scattered handling marks and surface blemishes, and the brass furniture has a general yellow-ochre patina throughout. A clear "ZB" inspector cartouche is present on the left side opposite the lock, and a spare nipple is still present within the patchbox. The rifle is accompanied by an original saber style bayonet that measures 26 3/4" overall, with a 21 3/4" yataghan blade having wide single fullers. The blade ricasso is unmarked, with the steel having a fairly bright gray patina, but does have some spots of mild freckling scattered throughout. The cast brass hilt has a thick muzzle-ring with single forward-swept quillon, ridged grip, and bird’s head pommel with functional press-stud. The brass has a mellow ochre patina and a few minor impact marks visible at the pommel. An original iron ramrod also accompanies the rifle. These Merrill rifles were serial numbered within the much larger Merrill Carbine production run, and were deemed to be reliable and very accurate rifles. Only one regiment is known to have been fully armed with them, the 21st Indiana. The remainder were issued in small numbers to individual sharpshooters within several other Union regiments, most notably the 7th and 10th Michigan, 4th Arkansas, and the 1st Massachusetts. The latter should be noted as possibly significant as this rifle was purchased out of an old and established New England collection. This is a fine example of an extremely rare Civil War breech-loading rifle, complete with an even rarer original saber bayonet, and would make a splendid addition to any collection. Antique