This rifle has a very weathered stock and what's left of a row of early sq.shank tacks from the front of the butt tang to the rear of the barrel tang. It's a Harpers Ferry dated 1846 so it saw service through out the Mex-Amer.War and very well could have been with Jeff Davis which is where this model got it's nickname of 'Mississippi Rifle' . The barrel has the standard Harpers Ferry proof marks plus an * A W over P the meaning of which I don't know. When the barrel retaining springs broke off, the Indian simply reversed the band and jammed it on. Whether this gun saw service in the Civil War or was Indian captured before that we'll never know. The forestock is worn down to the ramrod channel from being carried across a horse's neck and displays 2 worn holes where feathers were attached. One hole in the forestock and one at the base of the buttstock. There is no doubt about the authenticity of this Indian used Mississippi.
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