Back in the early days when I first started in this muzzleloading thing, like 1960's, I thought the 1863 Springfield was slicker than buttered bread. The irony is that out of all the dozens of m/l rifles I have owned, I never had one of them. I have had a Brown Bess, I have had an 1803 Harper's Ferry, I have had an 1842 Springlfield, and I have even had a Trapdoor Springfield. Oh well, looks like that will be the one that got away. At some point the desire to have anything military just evaporated. Well, I might entertain the thought of an M-1 or an M-14, but that would be it. Oh well, too bad.
Anyway, good on ya, Keith. Hope you enjoy your new purchase.