Page 199 - 4090-BOOK2

LOT 1260
Rare Earliest Type Civil War Era Cosmopolitan Arms Co. Double Loop Enclosed Lever Percussion Carbine - Serial no. 57, 36 cal., 20 inch part octagon
bbl., brown finish, walnut stock. According to Flayderman’s Guide, this is one of only approximately 50 of these early variant
Cosmopolitan carbines with the double loop enclosed lever with the locking latch located inside the rear loop. This is the predecessor to the “contract type” Cosmopolitan carbines which were
manufactured from 1859 to 1862, and then the Gwyn and Campbell marked carbines manufactured between 1863-1864; both of which saw use in the Civil War. This rare Civil War carbine was manufactured by the Cosmopolitan Arms Company of Hamilton, Ohio. The company was owned by E. Gwyn and A.C. Campbell. Lock plate marked “COSMOPOLITAN ARMS CO/HAMILTON.O. U.S/GROSS’ PATENT” and faint remnants of Cosmopolitan Arms Co. markings on top of the frame. Matching serial number “57” marked on the bottom of the barrel and frame, and on the breech block.
Collector’s Fact
This carbine is one of approximately 50 early variant Cosmopolitan carbines with the double loop
enclosed lever.
CONDITION: Good, with a mix of old applied brown finish and gray patina with some areas of blue finish underneath the brown, and mild flash pitting. Both sides of the breech show vise marks. The stock is very good as lightly sanded and re-oiled, with some scattered light handling marks and a few minor chips along some of the edges. The breech block cover has a vertical crack visible, otherwise mechanically fine. Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 1261 Scarce Civil War Burnside Third Model Breech Loading Percussion Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 3161, 54 cal., 21 inch round bbl., brown/bright finish, walnut stock. Only 1,500 of these Third Models were reportedly manufactured by the Burnside Rifle Company in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1862. They were designed by General Ambrose E. Burnside and improved by George P. Foster. Burnside carbines received strong reviews in antebellum trials and from Civil War battlefields. Burnside himself did not have the best record during the Civil War and is probably most famous for being the origin of “sideburns” which were popularly known as “burnsides” in the era. The third model differs from the second model in that it has the addition of a wood forearm, and it retains a solid breechblock unlike the fourth and fifth models with a hinged breechblock. It has a pinched blade front sight, notch and folding leaf rear sight (graduated for 100, 300, and 500 yards), partial marking “CAST STEEL 1861” on the top of the barrel, the matching serial number “3161” marked on the receiver, breechblock, and underneath the barrel, “BURNSIDE RIFLE Co./PROVIDENCE=R.I.” on the lock plate, and a faded illegible cartouche on the left side of the stock. CONDITION: Good, with artificially applied brown finish on the barrel, bright surfaces with some areas of scattered mild freckling/pitting on the frame and components as lightly cleaned, and absent patent markings on top of the frame. The wood is also good as refinished, with scattered light scratches and dents, and slightly undersized at the toe. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 1262 Indian Wars Era U.S. Springfield Armory Altered Spencer Repeating Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 42749, 50 Spencer cal., 22 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This carbine is one of over 11,000 altered and refurbished by the Springfield Armory around 1867-1874 with relined three-groove rifled barrels for use with both .56-52 “52 Spencer” and .56-50 “50 Spencer” ammunition, and fitted with a Stabler cut-off. It has the standard Spencer markings and sights, and the left of the stock behind the saddle bar is stamped with a “TJS” inspection cartouche. Absent rear sling swivel. CONDITION: Fine, retains 30% arsenal refurbished blue finish on the barrel with scattered smooth brown patina on the balance, and 40% of the case colors strongest in protected areas with smooth gray patina and scattered mild freckling on the balance. Stock is fine as re-oiled, with defined edges, some scattered mild pressure dents and scratches, and a legible cartouche. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 1263
Fine Indian Wars Era U.S. Sharps New Model 1863 Metallic Cartridge Conversion Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 87432, 50-70 U.S. Govt cal., 22 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This Sharps was originally manufactured in 1863-1865 as a percussion carbine for use in the Civil War and was one of 31,098 carbines returned by the U.S. Government to Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Co. in 1867, who received a contract for refurbishment and alteration of their rifles for use with metallic cartridges. This example is one of around 1,900 altered carbines with a spring loaded firing pin, and retains its
original six-groove rifling. Single letter inspection initials marked on various components. Script “DFC” (David F. Clark) ribbon inspection cartouche marked on the left center of the buttstock. Absent primer feed mechanism (does not affect function of the gun), as typical on these metallic cartridge conversion carbines. A worn old paper sticker plaque is affixed to the right of the buttstock. CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% arsenal refurbished blue finish on the barrel with some of the markings faded underneath the finish, and 60% plus vivid arsenal refurbished case colors with smooth brown and gray patina on the balance, with some scattered light freckling. The wood is very fine with defined edges, some light handling marks, a threaded hole on the left of the buttstock where a wood screw once resided, and a legible cartouche. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 1264 Civil War Ball & Williams Assembled Ballard Patent Carbine - Serial no. 390, 56-56 cal., 22 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This is one of approximately 1,000 carbines assembled for Merwin & Bray by Ball & Williams following the bankruptcy of Dwight, Chapin & Co. and sold to the State of Kentucky, with all of these purchased by April of 1864. Features a blade front sight, standard notch and folding leaf rear sight, round 22 inch barrel, Ballard patent marking on the right of the frame, and Merwin & Bray markings on the left of the frame. Initials that appear to read “NHR” (backwards “N”) carved on the left of the buttstock. CONDITION: Good, with artificially applied brown patina, with traces of blue finish around some of the edges, and smooth gray patina on the balance with some scattered light freckling. The wood is also good, with areas of light wear, scattered scratches and dents, and carving as mentioned above. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750 197