In early 1861, the Confederacy shipped machinery to make the US Model 1855 Rifle to Fayetteville, North Carolina. This machinery had been previously captured from the Harpers Ferry Arsenal on April 18, 1861. The Fayetteville Arsenal then started production of their version of the Model 1855 Rifle which has been labeled as the Fayetteville Rifle.
Initially, these rifles were produced with a US Model 1855 pattern lug on the barrel to accept a saber bayonet. On January 14, 1864, the Confederacy issued an order which discontinued the manufacture of saber bayonets. At this point the Fayetteville Rifle was modified to accept a socket bayonet.