USBSA-001 3-In Ordinance Rifle

A private citizen, John Griffen, of the Phoenix Iron Co. in Pennsylvania, developed a system of making artillery in the 1850’s that proved highly successful. The 3-in. Rifled weapon had clean lines and was light in weight. It was also an exceptionally safe weapon, and only one 3-in. rifle was recorded as having burst in the Union Army during the entire war. In 1861 having passed government tests, the Ordnance department ordered 200 rifled guns. By the end of the war the Phoenix Iron Co. had supplied the U.S. Army with 1,100 weapons. Each gun had its own limber, plus a spare limber and Caisson. The Caisson was used to carry two extra limber chests filled with ammunition. Although a gun crew normally walked alongside the gun when it was being moved, they could also ride a caisson and limber. As previously mentioned, Confederate armies had problems in supplying horses for artillery teams. This led to most Confederate limbers only using 4 horses. Union Artillery limbers for the Field Artillery, would often be able to have 6 horse teams.

Scale 1/30.