The rifle was a standard percussion cap musket and saw extensive usage by both sides over the course of the conflict. By the end of the Civil War, over 130,000 Colt Special Model 1861 muskets were ...

1807 - Percussion-detonating principle patented. 1825 ca. - Percussion-cap guns are in general use ... Introduced at the start of the Civil War, Spencer repeating guns were technically advanced ...