Pedersoli 1841 Mississippi Rifle
Davide Pedersoli & Co. S.r.l. · Rifle · In Production
Also known as: Pedersoli M1841 Mississippi Rifle, Pedersoli US Model 1841 Rifle, Mississippi Rifle
Overview
The Pedersoli 1841 Mississippi Rifle is a modern Italian-made reproduction of the U.S. Model 1841 percussion rifle, the muzzle-loading .54-caliber arm nicknamed the 'Mississippi' after Jefferson Davis's regiment carried it at Buena Vista. Built by Davide Pedersoli, it features a 33-inch browned round barrel with 1:48 seven-groove rifling, a case-hardened lockplate marked 'U.S.' with an American eagle, brass furniture, and a satin-finished American walnut stock. Ignition is by musket cap on a 5/16x24 nipple, and the rifle is prized by black-powder shooters and Civil War reenactors.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4310 g (152.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1235 mm (48.62") |
| Barrel Length | 838 mm (32.99") |
| Action Type | Muzzleloader |
| Firing Mechanism | Percussion |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Effective Range | 200 m (219 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 3 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 1219 mm (47.99") |
| Number of Grooves | 7 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Browned |
Calibers
- .54 Caliber Ball · primary — also known as .54 caliber, 13.7mm patched round ball
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Muzzle Loaded Single Shot
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Percussion Cap Ignition, Muzzle Loading, Musket Cap Nipple, Browned Barrel, Brass Furniture, Walnut Stock, Steel Ramrod, Blade Front Sight, Fixed Rear Sight, Sling Swivels
Production
Current-production commercial reproduction, made in Italy by Davide Pedersoli & Co.
Origin
Country of origin: Italy
Notes
Also offered by Pedersoli in a .58-caliber configuration; the .54 version is the closest match to the original Harpers Ferry specification. Recommended load is roughly 60 grains of FFg black powder behind a .530 patched round ball or .535 Minie ball.
Background
The original Model 1841 earned its 'Mississippi' nickname when Colonel Jefferson Davis armed the 1st Mississippi Rifles with it at the 1847 Battle of Buena Vista, where their accurate fire helped turn back a far larger Mexican force; Pedersoli's faithful reproduction keeps that piece of arms history alive for shooters and reenactors.