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LOT 3290
Historic Civil War Presentation Inscribed Ames
Mfg. Co. U.S. Model 1850 Staff & Field
Officer’s Sword and Scabbard Presented
to Quarter Master George W. Forrest
of the 11th Regiment Massachusetts
Volunteers - The sword is a classic Ames Manufacturing Co. U.S. Model
1850 Staff & Field Officer’s sword with a 32 1/4 inch blade with wide fuller, flat spine, patriotic and martial etching along with scrollwork, the Ames marking
etched above the right ricasso, and a gilt brass hilt with floral scroll and “US” designs, and a wire wrapped shagreen grip. The blued steel scabbard has
gilt brass fittings, and the upper band is inscribed “Presented/To/L. M. Geo. W. Forrest./11th Regt Mass V./by his/Boston Friends.” As laid out in the included
documentation from Curator Ernest G. Wells of the Grand Army Memorial, George W. Forrest enlisted as a private in D Company of the 11th Regiment of
Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Boston Volunteers) on October 13, 1861. Prior to enlisting he was a 29 year old publisher. He received a commission as second
lieutenant on August 30, 1862, and was promoted to first lieutenant on December 9, 1862. When he was dismissed on April 30, 1864, he was the regimental quartermaster. Prior to his
enlistment, the regiment fought at the First Battle of Bull Run. When he enlisted, they were focused on building fortifications to protect Washington, D.C. They fought during the Peninsular
Campaign in 1862 along with the Second Battle of Bull Run and Fredericksburg. In 1863, the unit suffered significant casualties during the Battle of Chancellorsville and only fielded 286
men at the Battle of Gettysburg where it lost another 23 killed, 96 wounded, and 10 missing.
CONDITION: Fine with the slightly darkened blade exhibiting clearly legible etching and mottled gray patina, traces of original gilt finish, aged patina on the brass, most of the original
finish on the scabbard body, vertical crack in the grip, distinct presentation totally original inscription, and minor age and storage wear.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 3289
Historic Early Civil War Presentation U.S. Model 1840 Medical Staff Sword
and Scabbard Presentation Inscribed to M.F. Linquist, M.D. on September
8th, 1861 - NSN. The 29 3/4 inch straight blade has floral etching, “United States Medical Staff” on
the obverse, and a motif based on the Great Seal of the U.S. on the reverse. The gilt brass hilt has “MS” for Medical
Staff in silver on the obverse languet along with floral patterns and an eagle. The brass scabbard has oak, laurel,
and star designs and is inscribed on the reverse between the suspension bands with “Presented/TO/M.F. Linguist,
M.D./by his personal friends/as a token of regard” followed by “Sept 8th 1861” vertically and “R.S. Dunham/G.W.
Dunham/J.H. Embree./S.S. Wandell./E.C. Serviss./N.O. Benjamin.” with “Committee” to the side. Included research
indicates that Dr. Maurice F. Linquist was born in Gothenburg, Sweden, and graduated from the medical university in Brussels and immigrated to the United States in the 1840s
and served in the Mexican-American War and then was a surgeon during the American Civil War. He lived in New York and moved to New Haven, Connecticut, after the Civil
War. He appears to have served in the Navy Medical Corps, including on the USS Powhatan, and he also made multiple trips to Cuba from New York on commercial vessels. The
presenters are identified in the research as businessmen from New York City and Washington, D.C., with Nathan O. Benjamin, the last name among the presenters, identified as
having a business at 424 Broadway manufacturing and selling swords and other military goods. Given this, he was likely the one who acquired the sword for the presentation.
CONDITION: Fine overall. Aside from a patch of mild oxidation staining on the lower obverse side of the blade, the blade is bright and has distinct etching. The hilt has crisp designs, aged patina, and bright
gilding in the protected areas. The scabbard has distinct inscriptions and designs, aged patina, and minor wear. Overall, a very attractive and interesting Civil War presentation sword.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 3288
Civil War U.S. Sharps New Model 1863 Breech Loading
Percussion Rifle - Serial no. C,39336, 52 cal., 30 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Offered here is a
Civil War issue Sharps New Model 1863 rifle. Only 6,150 New Model 1863 rifles were manufactured (C,30000-C,40000 range)
compared to over 60,000 New Model 1863 carbines, making them a desirable Sharps variation. Features a 30 inch barrel with a front
sight doubling as a socket bayonet lug, R.S. Lawrence patent ladder rear sight, Sharps address and “NEW MODEL 1863” marked on top of the barrel,
Sharps 1848 patent date marked on the left of the receiver with the R.S. Lawrence 1859 patent date and Sharps 1852 patent date on the lock, serial number
“C,39336” marked on the upper receiver tang and on the underside of the barrel, with three barrel bands, sling swivels mounted on the bottom of the middle barrel
band and buttstock, single letter inspection marks stamped on some components, “M.N.M” inspection initials on the left barrel flat at the breech, “T.W.R” inspection initials stamped on
the bottom of the forearm, and two faded bordered script inspection cartouches stamped on the left stock wrist. Black painted collection inventory numbers visible on the lever.
CONDITION: Very good with attractive character from period use, retains 40% faded thin original blue finish on the barrel with a mix of smooth gray and brown patinas on
the balance, strong case colors showing on the replacement barrel bands, scattered brown freckling, and distinct markings and edges in the iron overall. Wood is also very good
as re-oiled, with numerous scattered scars, dents and scratches, a crack at the right rear of the forearm with a small chip at the bottom left rear corner, and visible cartouches.
Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 3287
Civil War U.S. Spencer Model 1860 Army Repeating
Rifle - Serial no. 2942, 52 Spencer cal., 30 inch
round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Reportedly, 11,471 of
these innovative rifles were manufactured by the Spencer Repeating Rifle Company of Boston, Massachusetts, with known deliveries to the U.S Ordnance
Department between December 31, 1862 through 1863, with serial numbers of Spencer 1860 rifles commencing at 1000, and the serial number 2942 of this rifle
indicating it would have been included as part of the third shipment of 1,200, reportedly delivered to the Ordnance Department on February 23, 1863, according to related
information on pages 48 and 50 of the book “Spencer Repeating Firearms” (1983) by Roy Marcot. The rifle features a 30-inch round barrel, seven-shot magazine tube in the stock, a
blade front sight that doubles as a bayonet lug, an 800 yard folding ladder rear sight, six-groove rifling chambered for use with 56-52 “52 Spencer” rimfire, three barrel bands, and the three-line Spencer
address and patent marking on top of the breech. The matching serial number “2942” is roll-stamped on the top of the receiver and on the bottom of the barrel.
CONDITION: Good as Civil War used, with characteristic mottled brown and gray patina on the exposed iron surfaces, strong traces of vivid original case colors concentrated in protected areas of the breech block and
frame, a few areas of applied brown, scattered light oxidation/pitting and wear. Wood is also good with numerous scattered scratches, dents, scuffs, a few minor hairline
cracks, and general wear from period use. A period bent pin is in place of a screw on the sling swivel retainer of the middle barrel band. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
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