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LOT 3270
Very Fine Civil War U.S. Burnside Breech Loading Percussion Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 8731, 54 cal., 21 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. These “Fifth Model” Burnside carbines represent the completion of the evolution of General Ambrose Burnside’s ingenious carbine design. Matching serial number “8731” marked on the frame, breech block and bottom of the barrel. Two crisp boxed script “GC” (George Curtis) inspection cartouches stamped on the left wrist of the stock and small “G.C” inspection initials on bottom of the forearm and ahead of the buttplate tang.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 90% plus original blue finish on the barrel, 85% plus vibrant original case colors on the frame, lock, hammer, lever latch and buttplate, 80% bright original niter blue finish on the breech block and lever with some light
flash pitting, 95% plus bright original niter blue finish on the upper tang, and 50% plus original niter blue finish on the lower tang with some scattered light freckling overall, and some small marring marks around the guide screw on the right of the frame. Wood is also very fine with some scattered light to mild dents and handling marks, defined edges, and crisp cartouches. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 3271 Fine U.S. Marked Massachusetts Arms Co. British Contract Greene Patent Breech Loading Percussion Carbine - Serial no. 132, 577 cal., 18 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Approximately 2,000 of these Greene carbines were manufactured circa 1855-1857 on contract with the British for use in the Crimean War. All but a few hundred were reportedly scrapped for parts later, with few seeing military service. They differ from the American type in the larger caliber, the use of Queen Victoria’s “St. Edward’s Crown/VxR” cipher on the lock, British proofmarks, shorter barrel, hexadecagonal section ahead of the rear sight, sling ring on the lower tang, and a steel buttplate and patch box. This example has a British sold out of service mark on the left of the barrel, and “U.S.” marking in the left tail of the stock, indicating it could have possibly been bought back from the British and used in U.S. military service during the Civil War era. CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% original blue finish with smooth brown patina and scattered light freckling on the balance, 40% plus case colors strongest on the hammer with muted patterns visible on the lock, a few small patches of light pitting, and mostly clear markings with sharp edges in the metal overall. Stock is very good with defined edges, scattered pressure dents and handling marks, a few cracks and filled in repaired sections on the right wrist behind the upper tang and above the lock, and crisp stampings. The locking detent is not properly engaging, otherwise mechanically fine. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 3272
Very Fine U.S. Civil War American Machine Works Smith Breech Loading Percussion Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 10426, 50 cal., 21 5/8 inch part octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Reportedly, 30,362 Smith carbines were purchased by the U.S. Government throughout the Civil War. Some of these carbines were issued to the 3rd West Virginia Cavalry, who served as part of George Armstrong Custer’s 3rd Division and played a pivotal role in the Battle of Moorefield in 1864. This Smith carbine was manufactured by American Machine Works in Springfield, Massachusetts. Small inspection initials marked on various components, boxed script “LFR” and oval script “JH” inspection cartouches stamped on the left stock wrist.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 85% original blue finish on the barrel, 85% plus original case colors on the frame and hammer, 75% plus original bright niter
blue finish, with scattered light to mild freckling and smooth brown patina on the balance. Sharp markings and edges in the metal overall. Wood is also very fine with attractive original raised grains, some scattered light dings and scratches, defined edges and crisp cartouches. Mechanically excellent. This exceptional example of an American Machine Works Smith carbine would make
a fine addition to any Civil War or U.S. martial collection! Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 3273
Very Fine Civil War U.S. Massachusetts Arms Co. Second Model Maynard Breech Loading Percussion Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 9361, 50 cal., 20 inch part octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Maynard carbines were easily among the best cavalry weapons available during the Civil War. Both sides used them and held them in high regard. Approximately 20,000 second model Maynard carbines were
manufactured between 1864-1865. Some were issued to the 6th, 9th, and 11th Indiana Cavalry as well as the 10th and 11th East Tennessee Union Cavalry. “G.W.S” inspection initials stamped on the left barrel flat, single letter inspection initials on some small parts, and two boxed script inspection cartouches stamped on the left stock wrist. CONDITION: Very fine, retains 90% original blue finish on the barrel with some light surface corrosion visible around the muzzle, 60% original case colors, and 70% plus original niter blue finish concentrated on the hammer and trigger with smooth brown patina and some light freckling on the balance. The stock is also very fine with defined edges, some scattered light handling marks and dents, and crisp cartouches. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
Historic Corbin O. Wood Breech Loading Firearm 1860 Patent Model with Original Hang Tag - , bright finish. This is a historic original all metal full scale functioning patent model of Corbin O. Wood’s patent breech loading firearm, following U.S. patent number 30,372 dated October 9, 1860. It operates with a tip-up spring loaded barrel, which is released for loading at the breech by pressing the spring located on the left, which releases a detent catch and allows the barrel to automatically tip up at the rear. A lower extractor is automatically tripped upon opening and withdraws the lower edge of a cartridge and the rear sight is able to be pressed forward with the users thumb, and is integrally attached to an upper extractor that pulls on the upper edge of a spent cartridge to aid in ejection. “C.. O.. Wood..” is neatly inscribed in fancy script on the top flat of the barrel section. Attached is the original hang tag with the patent number, patentee name, description and date, and another attached tag reads “CERTIFIED TO BE THE ORIGINAL MODEL: #30,372 FROM: Mr. and Mrs. O. Rundle Gilbert’s Collection of Original United States Patent Models 1790-1890 Garrison, N.Y.”The Gilbert Collection housed thousands of original patent models such as this one, and all of the models were purchased at a bankruptcy sale in 1941, from the estate of Sir Henry Wellcome, who originally purchased them from the U.S. Government in 1925. Before the 1925 sale, curators from the Smithsonian were allowed to obtain any models they wanted, including many early firearms patent models, and this Corbin O. Wood metal patent model was clearly missed. CONDITION: Very fine, exhibiting a mostly bright appearance on the iron with a few scattered patches of light pitting, and attractive bright patina on the bronze. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Sir Henry Wellcome Collection; The Mr. and Mrs. Rundle Gilbert
Collection; Property of a Gentleman. 167 Estimate: 2,000 - 3,500
LOT 3274