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LOT 3337
Very Scarce Early Production Merrill Breech Loading Percussion Saddle Ring Carbine with “Staple” Front Sight Serial Number 288 - Serial no. 288, 54 cal., 22 1/8 inch round bbl., brown finish, walnut stock. Total production of type I and II Merrill carbines by James H. Merrill of Baltimore, Maryland, was just under 14,500, and nearly all were issued to Union cavalry units including several from New York and Pennsylvania. Merrill was in
Washington, D.C., in 1816 and initially worked with his brother William as a gunsmith in Baltimore in the 1840s. His first breech loading design was patented in 1856. This example is a very early type I carbine and has the rarely seen “staple” blade front sight and lacks government inspection markings. It features a notch rear sight with two folding leaves, brass patch box and furniture, knurled latch, a sling bar attached to the brass side plate on the left stock flat (absent sling ring), matching serial numbers on the tail of the lock and lever. CONDITION: Good, with old applied brown finish over draw file marks on top of breechblock lever, some scattered patches of mild pitting around the breech area at the nipple, some replacement screws, aged darkened patina on the brass fittings, and legible markings on the breech lever and lock. Absent sling ring. The stock is fine as re-oiled, with scattered scratches and dents and a few chips around the upper tang and at the front of the comb. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 3338 Scarce Joslyn Model 1855 “Monkey Tail” Breech Loading Percussion Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 1070, 54 cal., 22 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Only 1,500 of these Joslyn “Monkey Tail” carbines, invented by Benjamin F. Joslyn, are estimated to have been manufactured by A. H. Waters of Millbury, Massachusetts, in 1855 and 1856 and were the last firearms manufactured by Asa H. Waters. The Waters family had been involved in U.S. martial arms contracts since at least the 1808 contract muskets. These Joslyn carbines are known to have been issued to the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th Ohio Cavalry regiments in limited numbers. Features a left mounted saddle bar and ring. “1070” marked on the left of the breech block. Joslyn patent markings have been removed (filed off ) from the top of the “monkey tail” lever. CONDITION: Good, with bright polished exposed iron surfaces, with some areas of freckling, old applied brown finish visible above mild pitting in the protected areas of the breech block and on top of the breech, and a replacement soldered front sight and replacement rear sight. The refinished stock is also good, with scattered scratches and dents, a repaired crack on the left of the wrist, a minor crack behind the lock, some mild cracks around the buttplate, a filled in hole on the bottom of the buttstock, and a mild chip at the toe. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 3339
U.S. Navy Contract Remington Jenks “Mule Ear” Breech Loading Percussion Carbine with Maynard Patent Tape Primer Device - Serial no. 629, 54 cal., 24 1/4 inch round bbl., brown/ casehardened finish, walnut stock. E. Remington & Sons purchased machinery and a U.S. Navy contract for 1,000 Jenks carbines with Maynard tape primers from Ames Manufacturing Company and manufactured these carbines circa 1847-1848. A distinguishing feature of the Jenks-Remington is the Maynard tape primer on the lock. Marked “6/29” on the underside of the breech lever, “146” inside the primer door, this example has no markings on the barrel at the breech ahead of the oval loading port (does not appear to have ever had markings in that location), and a boxed script “RP” (Richard Paine) inspection cartouche stamped on the left of the stock opposite the lock. The oval loading opening found on many of these carbines was an alteration of the earlier round opening and was designed to facilitate the use
of paper cartridge rather than loose balls and powder. The bore was also rifled at this time. The Jenks is unique in that it is the only side hammer weapon officially used by the U.S. military. CONDITION: Very good, retains 30% original brown finish and strong patterns of case colors with scattered mild spotting/freckling and smooth gray and brown patina on the balance, bright golden patina on the brass, with sharp markings and edges in the metal. The stock is fine with scattered scratches and dents, a re-glued cracked section ahead of the lock, a few cracks ahead of the buttplate, and a crisp cartouche. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
LOT 3340
Civil War U.S. Merrill Second Type Breech Loading Percussion Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 16376, 54 cal., 22 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. Just under 14,500 Merrill carbines were manufactured in two variations during the Civil War. This example is the second type with slightly different stock contours, no patch box, and the button type latch. Merrill carbines were almost exclusively issued to cavalry units during the war, including units from New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kentucky, and Delaware. The lock plate is dated “1863.” The barrel has a fixed front blade front sight and notch rear sight with two folding leaves. “T.K.L.” inspector initials stamped on top of breech. The left stock flat has a saddle bar and ring below two faint boxed script inspection cartouches. “U.S.” marked buttplate tang.
Two “X” carvings on the right of the buttstock. CONDITION: Very good, with gray patina and scattered brown colored light pitting on the iron surfaces, defined lock markings, and attractive golden aged patina on the brass fittings. The re-oiled stock is good, with scattered scratches, a few scattered light to mild chips oiled over, carvings in the right of the buttstock as mentioned above, and lightly visible cartouches. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 1,400 - 2,250
LOT 3341
U.S. Navy N.P. Ames-Wm. Jenks “Mule Ear” Breech Loading Percussion Carbine - Serial no. 2643, 54 cal., 24 1/4 inch round bbl., brown/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Ames manufactured 4,250 of these distinctive “mule ear” breech loading carbines between 1843-1846. The Jenks carbines were originally smoothbores with a round loading perture. Around 1861, most Jenks carbines were rifled and had the loading aperture enlarged to an oval shape to accept a paper cartridge rather than loose balls and powder. “Wm JENKS” and “U.S.N./RC/P/1845” marked on the top of the barrel at the breech ahead of the loading aperture. Sling ring mounted on the lower tang. Oval script “RC” (Rufus Chandler) and boxed script “JL” (Joseph Lanman) inspection cartouches stamped on the left of the stock. CONDITION: Very good, exhibiting a mix of original brown finish and scattered brown patina, with traces of case colors strongest in protected areas, a few mild dings on the breech of the barrel, and defined markings in the metal. The stock is good as lightly sanded and re-oiled, with numerous scattered light scratches and dents, a replacement spliced section on the bottom of the buttstock, and light but legible cartouches. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 1,400 - 2,250
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