This is an original Civil War .58 caliber military rifle made by the firm of the Norwich Arms Company in Norwich Connecticut. The lockplate has the "NORWICH" maker mark along with the Union eagle and the "US" mark. It also has the production date of 1863 stamped into the lockplate behind the hammer. The action works crisply on all positions. They only made 25,000 of these guns and only made them in 1863 & 1864. This one has a full-length barrel with the front sight intact. The rear sight is present with both of the original leafs intact. The breech of the gun has the VP and eagle stamps where the gun was approved for military use still slightly visible. Along the top of the barrel breech it has the 1864 production date of the barrel. On the side of the barrel, it has the "NJ" stamp that matches the one on the stock so it lets us know that it was a state contracted weapon for the state of New Jersey. The bore of the gun still has the lands and grooves. All of the metal parts have a nice ancient dark surface which makes the gun very pleasing to the eye. Both of the sling swivels are present and accounted for. They both still pivot. The ramrod in the channel is a full-length original with a nice look. The stock has a pleasant deep dark tone all over that displays well. There is an old chip out of the top of the stock by the barrel tang. On the flat of the stock opposite of the lockplate you can see the New Jersey inspector cartouches. These are the marks that show that the gun was approved for military service. This is a wonderful looking weapon that will display well on the wall of your relic room.