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LOT 3179 Scarce Civil War Era Greene Rifle Works Warner Patent Carbine - Serial no. 1727, 50 RF cal., 20 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. This carbine is marked “GREENE RIFLE WORKS./WORCHESTER, MASS./PAT’D 1864.” on the left side of the brass frame. Approximately 2,500 of these carbines were manufactured by Greene Rifle Works to fulfill James Warner’s second U.S. contract and delivered between February-March of 1865. After the Civil War, the Warner carbines were sold as surplus and then Schuyler, Hartley & Graham resold them to France in 1870. This carbine has a round blade front sight, folding leaf rear sight with “3”, “5”, and “8” markings on the leaf (300-800 yards), a smooth walnut forearm, manual extractor, a straight wrist walnut buttstock, a saddle bar and ring on the left side of the frame, “M.M” on the buttplate tang, “1727” on the bottom of the barrel, frame, and breechblock. Includes wood tampion. CONDITION: Very good with smooth brown patina on the barrel, attractively aged brass, and light overall wear. The wood is very good, with a small crack and a chip underneath the forearm, and some light dents and scratches. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 3180 Fine Civil War U.S. Inspected Ball & Williams Ballard Carbine - Serial no. 10868, 44 RF cal., 22 inch part octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Ball & Williams were originally contracted to manufacture 5,000 of these carbines in January 1864 but ultimately only delivered 1,500 before abandoning the contract in favor of better profits received from contracts for the Kentucky cavalry. Of the 1,500 delivered to the federal government, 1,200 were issued to the Vermont militia after the St. Albans raid, the northernmost action of the war. This example has a blade front sight, standard notch and folding leaf rear sight, the Ballard patent on the right side of the frame, Ball & Williams and Merwin & Bray markings on the left side of the frame, “GH”, “MM”, and “H” inspection marks on
the various components, and an “MM” cartouche on the left side of the stock. Includes wood tampion and period Watervliet Arsenal leather sling. CONDITION: Fine, retaining 40% original blue finish mixed with mostly smooth brown patina, strong original case colors on the hammer, some light patches of oxidation, and some light nicks on the barrel. The wood is also fine with some mild handling wear, scattered dings and scuffs. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3181
Rare Massachusetts Arms Company Greene Breech Loading Carbine - NSN, 54 cal., 20 inch round bbl., blue/ casehardened finish, walnut stock. This is a very good example of a rare Greene carbine, manufactured circa 1855-1857 with a total production of only about 300 with the sling ring mounted on the rear of the trigger guard bow. In March of 1856, 200 of these carbines were delivered to fill a U.S. contract, of those 170 were sent west to the 1st Cavalry for field testing and were carried on the Cheyenne Expedition in May of 1857. A small number were issued to the 6th Ohio at the outbreak of the Civil War and most of the rest were sent to Florida for field trials. The barrel is equipped with a blade front and folding ladder rear sights. The upper tang is marked “GREENE’S PATENT/JUNE 27. 1854”, the lock plate is marked “MASS ARMS CO./CHICOPEE FALLS” and the primer lid is marked “MAYNARD’S PATENT/SEP. 22. 1845”. The carbine is mounted with a smooth straight grip stock fitted with a brass patch box and buttplate. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes wood tampion. CONDITION: Very good with a smooth brown patina overall, some light pitting, traces of original blue finish in protected areas, and attractive aged patina on the brass fittings. Stock is also very good with some scattered light dents and scratches, and a chip out of the toe. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
LOT 3182 Scarce Sharps & Hankins Army Model Carbine - Serial no. 153, 52 RF cal., 22 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Only around 500 of these carbines were manufactured c. 1862-1865, typically with a 24 inch barrel, with this one measuring at 22 1/8 inch. 200 of those were ordered by the U.S. Army for trials in 1865. This example has the standard markings and features and no visible government markings. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes leather sling and wood tampion. CONDITION: Good with mostly brown patina overall, extensive scattered mild pitting, mottled gray tones on the action, and aged patina on the buttplate. Wood is good with scattered mild scratches and dents, and cracks on the left of the wrist. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 3183 Fine Civil War U.S. Contract Starr Arms Co. Breech Loading Percussion Carbine - Serial no. 17404, 54 cal., 21 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Starr Arms Co. of Yonkers, New York, manufactured 20,601 of these carbines during the Civil War. Designed by Ebenezer T. Starr and initially favored over the Sharps carbines in government tests, Starr carbines often received poor reviews from the troops due to misinformation concerning ammunition. An Ordnance Department officer spread the false notion that the Starr fired the same cartridge as the Sharps, and thus units were sent Sharps ammunition instead of the slightly longer Starr cartridges which led to misfires. When used with proper cartridges, the Starr is arguably one of the best breech loading percussion designs of the era. This example has the standard sights and factory markings, inspector initials “H.G.S.” on the left side of the breech and ahead of the buttplate tang, matching numbered “17404” underneath the barrel and on the right side of the breech block, and two boxed script cartouches on the left wrist. The left rear of the stock is carved with initials “WW” (partial second W). Includes wood tampion. CONDITION: Fine, retaining 60% plus original blue finish on the barrel with some light handling dings and scratches, frame retains traces of original casehardening with mostly scattered freckling, and 50% original case colors on the lock with some light freckling. Wood is also fine with scattered dents, scratches, and chips. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
Collector’s Fact
1 of only approximately 300 Mass. Arms Greene Breech loading carbines manufactured with the sling ring mounted on the rear of the trigger guard bow.
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