I was 11 years old and a civil war nut already when I saw this show in Springfield, Virginia in January of 1961 and I was GLUED to our refrigerator-size Black and white TV set every week when it came on, Friday nights, if I remember correctly. I also remember, even to my young mind, thinking something wasn't right about their rifles, and it wasn't for more than 12 years that I realized what it was--The show was set in 1861 and they were using Model 1876 3-band Trapdoor conversion rifles, which were 1863 Springfield muskets converted for breech-loading cartridges. I still love the show, and will buy it immediately if it ever comes out on DVD!
Review of The Americans
