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LOT 3171
Indian Wars Era Burnside Contract Model 1865 Spencer Repeating Saddle Ring Carbine with
Desirable Colorado Territory Marking - Serial no. 22544, 50 Spencer cal., 20 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
walnut stock. The “U.S./COL. TER” branded into the left of the buttstock indicates this carbine is one of just 500 Spencer Carbines transferred by the U.S. Ordnance Department to the Colorado Territory on October 16, 1868. See page 129 of “Spencer Repeating Firearms” by Roy
Marcot for a similar example. Most of the Model 1865 Spencer carbines were manufactured in 1865 and 1866 after the end of the Civil War. Many were used during
Reconstruction and in the Indian Wars before the Springfield Trapdoors were widely issued, with many seeing continued use by Native American groups and Western settlers into the late 19th
century. Features blade front (currently detached, included separately) and folding ladder rear sights and the Stabler cutoff. Matching serial number “22544” marked underneath the barrel and on top
of the frame. Small single letter inspection initials marked on various components, “J.L.C” (Joseph L. Cottle) inspection initials on the left of the barrel at the breech, boxed script “HEV” (Henry E. Valentine) and “GC” (George Curtis) inspection cartouches on the left of the stock.
CONDITION: Very good, exhibiting a smooth gray and brown patina overall indicative of genuine period use with a few scattered patches of light pitting. Wood is also very good with scattered scratches, dents, chips, lightly visible cartouches, and period branded letters as mentioned above. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Donald Bates Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
manufactured using leftover parts, dies, and machinery that was returned to Remington after the completion of the U.S. government
contract deliveries by Savage Revolving Arms Co. on behalf of Remington. These were advertised in the catalog of 1866, with many sold and used out West. Thirty split breech civilian
carbines like this example are known to have been purchased by Nelson Story Sr., who was a pioneer Montana entrepreneur, cattle rancher, miner and vigilante, and a notable resident of Bozeman, Montana, just prior to his famous 1866 cattle drive from Texas to Montana along the Bozeman Trail with approximately 1,000
head of Texas Longhorns; the first major cattle drive from Texas into Montana. Features a pinched blade front sight, notch rear sight with folding leaf graduated to 500 yards, two-line Remington address and patent markings on the upper
tang, and saddle bar with saddle ring on the left of the frame. “C.G.C.” (Charles G. Curtis) inspection initials (leftover military contract part) marked underneath the barrel above a “T” and “P” proof. Matching serial number “2214” marked on the left
front surface of the frame and on the bottom of the barrel at the breech. “3” stamped underneath the forearm. “US” marked
buttplate tang (leftover military contract part). Includes an empty 56-50 Spencer ammunition box, a few related scanned copies of
writings related to Nelson Story including a copy of page 48 out of “Treasure State Tycoon” by John C. Russell in which the book states, “The
rifles sold for thirty-five dollars apiece in the East, but commanded one hundred dollars on the frontier. Given the dangers that awaited, Story
agreed to the price, and also purchased enough 56-50 Spencer rimfire cartridges to fill one of the supply wagons”, a partial copy of Remington
Society 3rd Quarterly 2013 article “The Real Story About Nelson Story, The First Cattle Drive from Texas to Montana and the Answer to the
Question: Which Remington Carbine was Used?” by Walt House, and a copy of a picture of Nelson Story.
CONDITION: Very good, retains 50% of the period refurbished blue finish thinning to a smooth brown patina on the balance, the barrel with a few
very small patches of light pitting. Retains 30% muted original case colors on the frame with smooth gray and brown patina on the balance, some
areas of light freckling, and crisp patent markings on the tang. Wood is also very good with defined edges, some scattered dings, a chipped section on
the right of the forend below the barrel channel, and a few hairline cracks behind the upper tang. Mechanically excellent. Included ammunition box is very good with general age related wear.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
113
LOT 3172
Remington Type III Commercial
Split Breech Rolling Block Saddle
Ring Carbine with Ammunition Box - Serial no. 2214, 56-50
cal., 20 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Type
III “Split Breech” civilian carbines, such as this one as evidenced by its lack of an inspection cartouche on the stock, were part of the last batch of approximately 1,000