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LOT 3169
Exceptional U.S. Harpers Ferry Model 1855 Percussion Rifle- Musket Dated 1858 with Long Range Sight - NSN, 58 cal., 40 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. The Model 1855 rifle-muskets were the first U.S. martial weapons designed for use with .58 caliber Minie bullets and were widely used during the Civil War, and first saw action in the Coeur d’Alene War in the Pacific Northwest in 1858. Between 1857-1861, 47,115 Model 1855 rifle-muskets were manufactured at Springfield Armory, and another 12,158 were manufactured at Harpers Ferry. The Model 1861 later replaced the Model 1855 due to the Maynard primer’s added expense and unreliability in rough conditions. Dated “1858” on the lock and barrel with the standard front sight/bayonet lug, early long range style rear sight graduated 1-4 on the base and 5-8 on the ladder, all iron fittings aside from the brass forend cap, “U.S./HARPERS FERRY” marked lock with the federal eagle and shield motif on the primer door, “V/P/(eagle)” barrel proof markings, two oval script inspection cartouches including “JB” (James Henry Burton) and “JAS” (John A. Schaeffer) stamped on the left stock flat surrounding “W.C.K.” (William C. Kirby) small stamped inspection initials, with “US” and “8” marked on the buttplate tang. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine. The metal surfaces retain their armory bright, with no evidence of flash pitting, some minor surface freckling, some light pitting on the buttplate, and sharp markings and edges overall in the metal. Stock is excellent with highly attractive original figured grains, some light handling marks and dents, defined edges overall, and exceptionally crisp cartouches. Mechanically excellent. This exceptional Harpers Ferry Model 1855 rifle-musket would be difficult to improve upon! Provenance: The Andrew Singer Collection. Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
LOT 3170
Civil War Era Sharps New Model 1859 Percussion Military Rifle Potentially Issued to the Berdan Sharpshooters Mentioned in Sword’s Berdan Sharps Book - Serial no. 57743, 52 cal., 30 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This rifle is mentioned by serial number in the book “Sharpshooter: Hiram Berdan and His famous Sharpshooters and their Sharps Rifles” by Wiley Sword and noted as “Perhaps one of the few non double set triggered Berdan Sharps” in his section on rifles “Relevant to the Berdan Special Order.” Frank Sellers in “Sharps Firearms” suggests 500 rifles were manufactured with double set triggers and 1,500 had standard triggers. Sellers also notes that these rifles fall in the 35000-57000 range “with a scattered few above this” confirming this rifle is potentially one of the Berdan rifles. The differences in the amount of estimated rifles with double set triggers vs regular triggers are based on different interpretations of General Ripley’s instructions to Sharps. Ripley informed Palmer at Sharps that the company would be responsible for any additional costs if they complied with Berdan’s requests; however, as Sword details, a New Model 1859 with double set triggers and a socket bayonet was actually the same price as a standard Army version with a saber bayonet the Ordnance Department originally ordered due to the expense of the saber bayonets. All we know for sure is that at least 500 rifles had double set triggers and some surviving Berdan rifles have regular single triggers. Sword believed the single triggers were generally just replacements, but it is not clear that this is the case. This rifle has standard markings and sights, a plain trigger, iron patch box, “M.N.M.” inspection mark on the barrel, no visible cartouche (previously reported by Sword to have had the correct “JT” cartouche for a Berdan Sharps), and “E” markings on the bottom of the forend, trigger plate, and buttstock. CONDITION: Good. Mostly mottled gray and brown patina along the moderately pitted barrel, darker patina on the action, artificial gray patina visible on the replaced hammer, dark patina on the pitted patch box, and most of the refinished case colors on the replacement buttplate. The stock is fair and has some chips and slivers absent, even re-oiled finish, and numerous scrapes and dings throughout. Mechanically fine. This rifle has seen the heat of battle and is also importantly listed by Wiley Sword as a rifle relevant to the Berdan Sharpshooters. Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
LOT 3171
Excellent New Jersey Marked Civil War U.S. Colt Special Model 1861 Contract Percussion Rifle-Musket with Bayonet -
NSN, 58 cal., 40 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. An estimated 100,000 Special Model 1861 rifle-muskets were manufactured by Colt before the end of the Civil War, loosely based on the British Pattern 1853 “Enfield” rifle-muskets, and some of the design elements were used on the Springfield Model 1863 rifle. When you consider Colt also manufactured over 200,000 revolvers during the war and suffered a factory fire, and the fact that many contractors failed to supply a few thousand firearms throughout the war, this number is incredible. This exceptional example has an “1862” dated lock and barrel, and was manufactured under contract with the State of New Jersey for their state units, with “N.J” stamped on the left barrel flat at the breech and on the left stock flat, and has a trumpet head ramrod, standard blade front and three leaf rear sights, “U” marked barrel bands, and “U.S” marked buttplate. Includes a “US” marked socket bayonet. CONDITION: Excellent, nearly as issued. The metal surfaces retain their armory bright with some minor freckling, and absolutely sharp markings and edges. The rear sight retains 85% of the original blue finish. The stock is also excellent, with highly attractive original oil finish and raised grains, distinct edges overall, a few minor dings and handling marks, and exceptionally crisp “N.J” stamping. Mechanically excellent. Bayonet is very fine with a few patches of corrosion. This outstanding example of a New Jersey Contract Colt Special Model 1861 rifle-musket would be difficult to improve upon! Provenance: Property of a Distinguished Southern Clergyman. Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000
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LISTED BY SERIAL NUMBER IN THE BOOK SHARPSHOOTER: HIRAM BERDAN AND HIS FAMOUS SHARPSHOOTERS AND THEIR SHARPS RIFLES BY SWORD