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U.S.
LOT 1220
Very Fine and Scarce Civil War Era U.S. Martially Inspected Remington Type I Split Breech Rolling Block Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 2058, 46 RF cal., 20 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. These
Type I split breech carbines were manufactured by Savage Revolving Arms Co. for Remington to fulfill a Government contract for 5,000, with completed deliveries from February-April of 1865. Approximately 3,600 were
repurchased from the government by Remington in 1870 and then resold to the French for use in the Franco-Prussian War, lending
to their scarcity on the collectors market today. Features include a “pinched” blade front sight, notch rear sight with folding leaf graduated up to
500 yards, two-line Remington address and patent markings on the upper tang, and saddle bar with saddle ring on the left of the frame. Single letter inspection initials marked on various components. Matching serial number “2058” marked on the left front surface of the frame and on the bottom of the barrel at the breech above a
crossed out “2070”, with “2611” handwritten inside the forend channel, and “1871” on the left of the rolling block. “148” stamped behind the lower tang.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 90% original blue finish on the barrel with some areas thinning to smooth brown patina. 70% plus vivid original case colors remain with scattered light freckling on the frame. The revarnished wood is fine, with scattered light scratches and dents, some pin-sized holes visible on the bottom of the buttstock (possibly from a Remington
factory collection inventory tag), and defined edges. Mechanically excellent. This exceptional example of a Remington Type I Split Breech carbine would make a fine addition to any U.S. martial or Civil War collection!
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 1221
Very Scarce Civil War Era Lee Fire Arms Co. Single Shot Saddle Ring Carbine - NSN, 42 RF cal., 20 7/8 inch round bbl.,
blue finish, walnut stock. These carbines were designed by James Paris Lee and manufactured by the Lee Fire Arms Company of
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Though Lee is most famous for his bolt action and detachable box magazine design, the first production arms manufactured based on
Lee’s designs were these single shot carbines. The barrels were subcontracted to Remington, but an error in communication and/or the U.S. Ordnance Department’s desire to not
pay for the arms after the conclusion of the war led to the government rejecting the whole batch of carbines due to the carbines being bored at .42 caliber like the trial arms instead of the .44
caliber mentioned in communications from Chief of Ordnance Brigadier General A.B. Dyer. Only 255 carbines were completed by November 1866, and approximately 200 more were nearly complete. Other
components were also outsourced, but they were assembled in Milwaukee. With the hammer at half cock, the side swing barrel opens for loading from the right. It has a “pinched” blade front sight, two leaf 500 yard
rear sight, a modern made reproduction saddle bar and ring mounted on the left of the action, and smooth walnut buttstock with casehardened buttplate. The frame of this example is a sporting model, visually different from the military carbine model frame in that it has a higher top section with a sight notch built in. It is possible this example could have been assembled from leftover parts in the period for commercial sale.
CONDITION: Very good as configured, with artificially applied brown patina on the iron surfaces with scattered mottled freckling. The sights, saddle bar and ring are modern made replacements. Stock is also very good as sanded and re-oiled, with a faintly visible repaired crack on the right of the wrist, and a few scattered light scratches and dents. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1222
Indian War Alteration Spencer Repeating Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 29564, 50 RF cal., 22 inch round bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured from 1863-1865 with a total production of approximately 50,000, the Spencer carbine was
one of the most widely used and popular Civil War firearms. It has pinched brass blade front and folding rear sight graduated to 900 yards. The trigger guard/lever
operates the unique Spencer action, extracting the spent casing on the down stroke and chambering a fresh round from the tube magazine in the buttstock on the upstroke.
The top of the receiver is marked “ SPENCER REPEATING / RIFLE CO. BOSTON, MASS. / PAT’D MARCH 6, 1860” and the serial number is marked near the rear. As with many Spencer carbines, this example
was altered by the Springfield Armory after the war with a Stabler cut-off and a sleeved barrel for .50 caliber rimfire cartridges. The barrel was finished blue with casehardened remaining parts. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight wrist stock, with a sling swivel on the bottom of the butt and a saddle ring and bar on the left side of the wrist/receiver, followed by the correct “ESA” cartouche and a second unclear cartouche. There are some single letter inspection marks on many of the components.
CONDITION: Fine as arsenal refurbished. The carbine retains 30% of the arsenal faded blue finish and slightly less of the brilliant case colors with a primarily mottled gray patina on the balance with areas of light spotting. The wood is very good with one clear cartouche, dings, dents, and scrapes. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,000
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