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LOT 3233
Exceptional Civil War U.S. Navy Contract Whitney Model 1861
“Plymouth” Percussion Rifle - Serial no. 4375, 69 cal., 34 1/4 inch round
bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. Only 10,000 of these “Plymouth” rifles were
manufactured between 1861 and 1864 by Eli Whitney Jr.s Whitneyville
Armory and Whitney Arms Company under contract with the U.S. Navy.
Variations are found throughout the Plymouth rifle contract due to Whitney’s
penchant for using left over parts from other weapon production runs. They
were manufactured based upon the recommendations of Captain John A.
Dahlgren of the U.S.S. Plymouth. These rifles are larger caliber than the other rifles of the era, employ more precise sights,
and have a bayonet lug on the right for the Collins & Co. saber bayonets used only on this model. The larger caliber and long
range sights were seen as necessary for naval warfare by Dahlgren. This example is dated “1862” at the tail of the lock (the vas
majority are dated 1863) and has the first style large patriotic eagle motif and “U.S./WHITNEY-VILLE” stamped on the main body
of the lock. The barrel has the bayonet number “4375” on the tang (the bayonets were hand fitted and thus the guns were numbered to them), “1863” on
top at the breech, and standard proof and inspection marks at the breech. The left stock flat has Frank Warren’s correct “FCW” cartouche. The trigger guard tang has a finger spur, and the distinctive
Dahlgren ramrod is fitted below the barrel. They saw use on various U.S Navy warships during the war and were highly sought after. A commanding officer reportedly requested Plymouth rifles in
exchange for the Spencer rifles his crew was issued because the harder hitting Plymouth with its distinctive saber bayonet was safer and more useful than the Spencer’s rapid fire. Captain Dahlgren
became the commander of the Washington Navy Yard at the beginning of the Civil War and took command of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron prior to the capture of Savannah, Georgia.
CONDITION: Excellent as issued. The metal surfaces remain mostly original armory bright and have some spots of minor staining and oxidation. The stock is also excellent and has only slight dings and
scratches from handling and storage. The markings throughout remain crisp. The lock functions fine.
Estimate: 7,000 - 9,000
LOT 3232
Documented Civil War U.S. Martially
Inspected Berdan Sharpshooter Double Set Trigger Sharps New Model 1859 Percussion Military Rifle, Listed by Serial Number in
the Book “Sharpshooter: Hiram Berdan, his famous Sharpshooters and their Sharps Rifles” - Serial no. 55942, 52 cal., 30 inch round bbl., brown
finish, walnut stock. This rifle is listed by its serial number, 55942, as a known surviving Sharps Berdan rifle on page 98 of the included book “Sharpshooter: Hiram
Berdan and His famous Sharpshooters and their Sharps Rifles” by Wiley Sword. This New Model 1859 Sharps rifle falls within the correct 54000-57000 serial number
range of the 2,000 special ordered rifles produced in 1862 for the 1st and 2nd U.S. Sharpshooter regiments (U.S.S.) organized and recruited by Colonel Hiram Berdan
(Berdan’s Sharpshooters), and the left wrist of the stock is stamped with the bordered script “JT” inspection cartouche of John Taylor. John Taylor inspected all 2,000
of the Berdan special contract rifles between April 11 and May 24, 1862, per Wiley Sword’s book. Berdan’s two U.S. Sharpshooter regiments (U.S.S.) were composed
of experienced marksman from Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Wisconsin. The regiments were intended to
serve as skirmishers and light infantry modeled on the famous British Rifle Brigade. Like their British counterparts, the U.S.S. were issued dark green uniforms with
non-reflective black buttons. Berdan selected the New Model 1859 Sharps rifle to arm the Sharpshooters, replacing the originally issued Colt Model 1855 rifles. The
Ordnance Department’s initial order was for standard New Model 1859 rifles, but Colonel Hiram Berdan contacted the factory and requested a dull barrel finish and
double set triggers. The factory assumed Berdan had permission for the changes and began producing rifles for the unit to his specifications, but once the Ordnance
Department got word, they insisted that they would not pay for additional rifles in the altered configuration. However, given that the specifications Berdan requested
did not actually cost more due to the use of a socket bayonet rather than a sword bayonet, Sharps may have just continued making the rifles as Berdan requested.
Many of the rifles were used by the Sharpshooters, but others were diverted and used by other units including the Bucktails (13th Pennsylvania). Page 82 of Wiley
Sword’s book states, “...a detail of sharpshooters cut small sticks to fit to the sight in order to increase the elevation while at the Po River in 1864. Their shots at an
estimated 1,500 yards distance caused a Confederate signal station to be abandoned, reported an observer.” This rifle has a blade front sight that doubles as a socket
bayonet lug, standard Lawrence patent notch and ladder rear sight with readings graduated to 800 yards with a 900 yard center notch at the top, standard markings
including the Sharps Hartford address on top of the barrel ahead of the rear sight and “NEW MODEL 1859” at the breech, illegible inspection initials on the left breech
of the barrel, adjustable double set triggers, long military forearm, sling swivels on the middle barrel band and buttstock, an iron patch box, and is correctly not fit with
a lever latch. The matching serial number “55942” is marked on top of the receiver tang and on the underside of the barrel. Most of these rifles saw hard use in some of
the most significant major battles of the Civil War in a specialized role similar to a modern day sniper rifle, with many dropped in battle; surviving examples are highly
sought after today!
CONDITION: Good as a historic Civil War used rifle, with artificial brown patina and scattered patches of light to mild pitting in the iron. The wood is also good, with scattered dents and
scratches, some chips, and a visible cartouche. Mechanically fine. This historic Berdan Sharps rifle would make a fine addition to any U.S. Civil War arms collection!
Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000
LISTED BY SERIAL NUMBER IN THE BOOK
SHARPSHOOTER: HIRAM BERDAN AND
HIS FAMOUS SHARPSHOOTERS AND THEIR
SHARPS RIFLES BY SWORD