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"But the original C.S. Richmonds were not all shiny like this were they?"
Yes. Like the Springfield and Harpers Ferry muskets, they were finished (or not finished) "armory bright." In the days when camouflage was not even thought of (if, indeed, the word existed) long rows of men with the sun glinting off musket barrels and bayonets was seen as a demonstration of power and a fine military display. Also, the shiny finish made rust easy to detect by a sergeant who could then counsel the young troop about keeping his gear in shape.
Jim
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