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LOT 72
Fine and Desirable Custer Era U.S. Springfield Model 1873 Trapdoor Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 19786, 45-70 Government cal., 22 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Some of these Model 1873 carbines are known to have been used in the Battle of Little Bighorn in June 1876, with serial numbers undocumented, although any gun falling below
the serial number of 43700 is generally accepted as a possible candidate, with this specific example being made well prior to the incident. Many other early
trapdoor carbines were used extensively by the U.S. Cavalry throughout the Indian Wars. Blade front sight and correct ladder rear sight graduated to 1,200 yards, left mounted saddle bar and ring, correct stock with short 9 inch comb, oval script “ESA” (Erskine S. Allin) inspection cartouche stamped on the left stock flat, circled script “P” firing proof stamped behind the lower tang and a solid buttplate correctly without compartment inside the stock.
LOT 73
Outstanding Indian Wars Era U.S. Sharps New Model 1863 Metallic Cartridge Conversion Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. C,13565, 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 .50-70 centerfire metallic cartridges. This example features a sleeved barrel with three-groove rifling done at the time of alteration and standard markings and features. Boxed script “EF” inspection cartouche stamped on the left of the stock wrist with two faint cartouches visible beneath, and a script “DFC” (David F. Clark) ribbon inspection cartouche stamped on the left center of the buttstock as well as absent primer feed mechanism (does not affect function of the gun), as typical on these metallic cartridge conversion carbines.
