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LOT 289
Rare and Historic U.S. Type Massachusetts Arms Company Greene Breech Loading Percussion Carbine, Civil War Presentation Inscribed to Lieutenant Colonel Joseph S. York, 5th New York Infantry, for Gallantry in the Battle of Big Bethel - NSN, 54 cal., 20 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This is a rare example of a U.S. type Greene carbine manufactured circa 1855-1857 with a reported total production of 300 with the sling ring mounted on the rear of the trigger guard bow. In March of 1856, 200 of these carbines were delivered to fill a U.S. contract; of those, 170 were sent west to the 1st Cavalry for field testing and were carried on the Cheyenne Expedition in May of 1857. A small number were issued to the 6th Ohio at the outbreak of the Civil War, and most of the rest were sent to Florida for field trials. This example has a period presentation inscription on the patchbox that reads, “Presented to/Lieut. Jos. S. York, 5th New York,/S.V. Duryees Zouaves by the/ members of the New York bar/for gallant services at the/battle of Big Bethel/June 10th 1861”. The Battle of Big Bethel was one of the first Civil War land battles in the war after the bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumter. The Union forces were approximately 3,500 strong and suffered a reported 18 killed, 53 wounded, and 5 missing (mostly from a friendly fire incident early on in the battle), while the Confederates were 1,400 strong and only suffered 1 killed and 9 wounded. Reportedly, the 5th New York Infantry, also known as “Duryee’s Zouaves,” led the charge for the Union side throughout most of the fighting under heavy fire from the Confederacy.
An excerpt from the text “Camp and field life of the Fifth New York Volunteer Infantry (Duryee Zouaves)” states, “Lieutenant York had received a military training, and was promoted to a Captaincy in the Fifth. He took a leading part in the charge on the enemy’s works at Big Bethel, in which he was wounded. He served with the regiment until August
29, 1861, when having received a commission as Captain in the 15th U.S. Infantry, he resigned his command. Subsequently he died in the performance of his duties in the regular service, after the war.”
Joseph S. York’s Civil War Soldier Record indicates he was born in 1825, originally enlisted on April 25th, 1861 in New York City at the age of 36 right at the beginning of the Civil War as a first lieutenant, and mustered in Company I
of the 5th New York on May 9th, 1861. His rank was later changed to Captain on September 4th, 1861 as subsequently enlisted with the 15th U.S. Army Infantry. His death date is listed as April 23rd, 1867 (cause unlisted).
The barrel is equipped with a blade front sight and folding ladder rear sight. The upper tang is marked “GREENE’S PATENT/JUNE 27. 1854”, the lock plate is marked “MASS ARMS CO./CHICOPEE FALLS” and the primer lid is marked
“MAYNARD’S PATENT/SEP. 22. 1845.” The carbine is mounted with a smooth straight grip stock fitted with a brass patch box and buttplate. A sword
exists that was also presentation inscribed to Joseph S. York for the Battle of Big Bethel, likely accompanying this gun at the time it was presented to him. CONDITION: Very good, with smooth gray patina on the iron surfaces,
some scattered areas of light pitting, and clear markings in the metal. The stock is
good as sanded and re-oiled, with some mild dents and scratches, and a chipped section at the toe that his been oiled over. The primer feed gear is non-functioning, otherwise mechanically fine. This rare U.S. Type Massachusetts Greene carbine, with its historic presentation inscription to Joseph S. York for gallantry in one of the earliest land battles of the Civil War, would make a prominent addition to any martial firearms collection! Estimate: 7,500 - 15,000
LOT 290
Exceptional and Scarce Civil War Era Greene Rifle Works Warner Patent
Rimfire Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 542, 50 RF cal., 20 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. This carbine is
marked “GREENE RIFLE WORKS./WORCHESTER, MASS./PAT’D 1864.” on the left side of the brass frame. Approximately 2,500 of these carbines
were manufactured by Greene Rifle Works to fulfill James Warner’s second U.S. contract and delivered between February-March of 1865. After the
Civil War, the Warner carbines were sold as surplus and then Schuyler, Hartley & Graham resold them to France in 1870. This carbine has a round blade front sight, folding
leaf rear sight with “3”, “5”, and “8” markings on the leaf (300-800 yards), a smooth walnut forearm, manual extractor, a straight wrist walnut buttstock, a saddle bar and ring on
the left side of the frame, inspection initials “M.M” stamped on the left of the frame, on the buttplate tang and on top of the buttstock, “76” on the bottom of the barrel, bottom and top
of the frame, and bottom of the breech block, “542” stamped on internal frame and breech block. Includes a copy of a May 1960 Gun Report with the article “The Warner Carbine” by Andrew F.
Lustyik, and a copy of an October 1981 The American Society of Arms Collectors bulletin number 45 with the article “The Warner Carbine” by Robert Howard.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, with bright iron surfaces, highly attractive original golden aged patina on the brass, smooth gray and brown patina on the rear sight notch, hammer, and extractor lever, and mostly sharp markings and edges in the metal. The wood is fine, with an absent cracked section to the left of the upper frame tang, numerous scattered scratches and dings, and defined edges and inspection initials. Mechanically excellent. This exceptional Greene Rifle Works Warner patent carbine would make a fine addition to any Civil War firearms collection!
Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000
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