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SERIAL NUMBER 38
LOT 3297
Rare U.S. Burnside First Model Breech Loading Percussion Saddle Ring Carbine, Serial Number 38 - Serial no. 38, 54 cal., 21 3/4 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This is a solid representative example of one of less than 300 total First Model Burnside carbines manufactured by Bristol Firearms Co. circa 1857- 58. A reported 200 First Models were purchased by the U.S. government, with most issued to the 1st U.S. Cavalry at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas in January 1858 and carried on various expeditions. This example is marked with sub-inspector initials “A.D.K.” (Andrew D. King) on the left of the barrel at the breech. A tape primer device located inside the frame is actuated by a breechblock release lever mounted on the right side of the frame; unique to the First Model Burnside carbines, with subsequent models absent both the primer system and this style of lever. According to “The Burnside Breech Loading Carbines” by Edward A. Hull pg. 15-17, “...on April 21, 1856, Col. [Henry] Craig [Chief of Ordnance] ordered 200 carbines of Burnside for field trials... By the terms of this first Army order for carbines [Ambrose] Burnside was to provide carbines of .54 caliber having a barrel 22 inches long and weighing less than seven pounds overall. The carbines were required to have a swivel bar with ring for cavalry use. In a change to the design, Col. Craig required that the carbine be configured to use Maynard’s tape primer...This requirement presented Burnside and Foster [Burnside’s partner and head gunsmith]
with the problem of developing a primer feed mechanism which would work reliably, could be readily manufactured and avoided infringing on Dr. Maynard’s lock patent (to avoid paying royalties).” Like the second model after it, it correctly lacks a forend. Blade front and fixed notch rear sight. Matching numbers are located on the frame, breech block, and underside of the barrel. The stock is fitted with a brass trapdoor buttplate. “C.S.A. “carved in the top of the buttstock comb, and “Captured on the battlefield at Corinth Oct 4th 1862” carving faintly visible on the left of the buttstock. It is possible this early Burnside carbine could have been captured at the Battle of Corinth, which occurred between October 3rd-4th, 1862, and may have been subsequently used in Confederate hands. Circular brass collection tag marked “348” hanging from the sling ring. CONDITION: Good, exhibiting genuine use, with mostly brown patina overall and a few areas showing through to a smooth gray, with scattered areas of light pitting and mostly clear markings. The lever is a modern made replacement, the sling bar has a soldered repair visible at the front, and the hammer has a repaired/reattached section and has been casehardened. The stock is also good as refinished, with some scattered light scratches and handling marks, carvings as mentioned above, a crack ahead of the buttplate tang, and a few gouges. A cover piece on top of the breech block is absent and the percussion nipple is partially absent, otherwise mechanically fine. These early First Model Burnside carbines are one of the most highly sought after U.S. arms and very rarely turn up in any condition, with only a handful known to still exist! Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
Approximately 300 First Model Burnside Carbines were produced.
Very Scarce Civil War U.S. Burnside Second Model Breech Loading Percussion Saddle Ring Carbine -
Serial no. 1874, 54 cal., 20 3/4 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This exceptional example is one of approximately 2,000 Second Model Burnside carbines manufactured between 1860-1862. The Second Model is an improvement on the First Model before it in that it now uses George P. Foster’s patented breech-latch. The main distinguishing visual characteristic of the second model from the more common later examples is the absence of a wooden
forearm. This Second Model Burnside is far less common than the Fifth Models typically seen today, which were manufactured in much larger numbers, making this a desirable variation. Some of these carbines were used by the 1st Rhode Island Infantry at the Battle of Bull Run in July 1861, and the remainder were issued to many Federal cavalry regiments including the 1st U.S. Cavalry. It has a pinched blade front sight, notch and folding leaf rear sight (graduated for 100, 300, and 500 yards), a saddle ring and bar on the left side of the action, and a sling swivel mounted on the bottom of the stock. “BURNSIDE PATENT./MARCH 25th 1856.” marked on top of the frame, “BURNSIDE RIFLE Co/PROVIDENCE=R.I.” marked lock plate, and “G. P. FOSTER.PAT./ APRIL 10th 1860” marked on the right of the lever catch. Matching serial number “1874” marked on top of the frame, breech block and underside of the barrel. Nearly all of the Second Model Burnside carbines saw hard Civil War service with a low survival rate. CONDITION: Good with smooth gray patina overall, scattered light freckling and light pitting, and mostly clear markings in the metal. The hammer is a modern made artificially aged replacement. The barrel has been shortened slightly at the muzzle. The stock is also good as refinished, with some light scratches and a few scattered mild dents. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
Approximately 2000 Second Model Burnside Carbines were produced.
LOT 3298
Approximately 1500 Third Model Burnside Carbines were produced.
LOT 3299 Very Scarce Civil War Burnside Third Model Breech Loading Percussion Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 2739, 54 cal., 21 inch round bbl., blue 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), “CAST STEEL 1861” on the top of the barrel, “BURNSIDE’S PATENT/MARCH 25TH, 1856.” on top of the action, the matching serial number “2739” marked on the receiver, breechblock, underneath the barrel and inside the forearm channel, “BURNSIDE RIFLE Co./PROVIDENCE=R.I.” on the lock plate, “W” inspection initial on the left of the barrel and frame at the breech, and two faded illegible oval cartouches visible on the left side of the stock. CONDITION: Good, with mostly brown patina on the iron surfaces, strong traces of niter blue finish on the left of the action and in some of the protected areas, numerous dings visible on top of the breech block and on the underside of the lever, and mostly clear markings in the metal. The wood is also good with general wear, scattered scratches and dents, and solid overall figure. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500 173