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LOT 1270
Outstanding Providence Tool Co. Peabody Breech Loading Saddle Ring Carbine - NSN, 50 RF cal., 20 inch
round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. The Peabody carbine was manufactured by the Providence Tool Co. of Providence, Rhode Island c. 1866-1871. The Peabody carbine was developed and tested in 1864, but the end of the Civil War terminated Ordnance Department interest in it. Large numbers of Peabody rifles and carbines were sold to Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, Romania, Spain, and France for use in the Franco-Prussian War. Post-war sales of Peabody rifles and carbines in the United States were limited to three state contracts. South Carolina purchased 350 .50 caliber Peabody carbines originally manufactured for a French contract. The carbine has a military blue barrel with block front sight and two-leaf folding rear sight. The barrel band, receiver, breech block, hammer, side plate, lever and buttplate are color casehardened. A staple-mounted carbine sling ring is mounted at the junction of the left side of the stock and the receiver. The stock and forearm are oil-finished black walnut. The left of the receiver is roll-stamped “PEABODY’S
PAT./JULY 22. 1862/MAN’F’D BY/PROVIDENCE TOOL CO./PROV. R.I.” in five lines. Small single block letter sub-inspection marks on most components. An oval “WC”
Providence Tool Co. inspection mark, which was stamped on all Peabody carbines manufactured for foreign contracts, is stamped on the left of the stock wrist. CONDITION: Excellent, retains, 98% vivid original casehardened and blue finishes with sharp markings and edges in the metal overall. Wood is also excellent with attractive original raised grains and rich oil finish, distinct edges, a few light handling marks, and an exceptionally crisp cartouche. Mechanically excellent. This outstanding example of a Providence Tool Co. Peabody carbine would be difficult to improve upon! Estimate: 3,500 - 4,750
LOT 1271 . Springfield Model 1884 Trapdoor Rifle - Serial no. 368840, 45-70 Government cal., 32 5/8 inch bbl., blue/ alnut stock. This is an exceptional example of a U.S. Springfield 1884 rifle that was manufactured in 1886. The nds, receiver, lock, hammer, trigger guard and buttplate with casehardened breechblock and barrel tang. The stock is oil-finished black walnut. The rifle has the Buffington rear sight, low-arch breechblock and grooved trigger. The lock plate is roll-stamped with the eagle and shield motif followed by “U.S./SPRINGFIELD” in two
lines in front of the hammer. The serial number is stamped on the rear of the receiver. The breechblock is stamped: “U.S./MODEL/1884” in three lines. The left side of the barrel is stamped with the “V/P/eagle head” proof and inspection marks followed by a second “P”. The right side of the Buffington rear sight leaf is stamped “R” (Rifle). The heel of the buttplate is stamped “U.S.” in front of the screw. The left stock wrist is stamped with the script initials “SWP/1886” within a rectangle. The sub-inspector’s initials “R.D.R.” and an encircled script “P” proofmark are stamped behind the trigger guard final. CONDITION: Excellent plus. The rifle is in as-issued condition and retains 98% of the original blue finish and 99% of the water quenched case colors. The only finish loss on the rifle is surface rust on the muzzle (caused by bayonet) and some minor rack wear on the heel of the buttplate. The case colors on the breechblock and tang are vivid. The stock is in excellent plus condition with raised grain and perfect proof and inspection marks. This is an outstanding example of a Model 1884 Trapdoor Springfield Rifle that would be difficult to improve upon. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,250
LOT 1272
U.S.Springfield Trapdoor Rifle with Ramrod Bayonet - Serial no. 133903, 45-70 Government cal., 32 5/8 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Only 1,000 Model 1884 experimental rifles were manufactured circa 1886 with hooded front sights and ramrod bayonets in the 320,000 serial number range. The ramrod bayonet concept was further developed and used on approximately 65,000 Model 1888 trapdoors as
well as the early Springfield Model 1903 rifles. The idea was to create a system that did not require a soldier to carry another piece of equipment, but the concept had its critics including Theodore Roosevelt who told the Ordnance Department, “I must say that I think that ramrod bayonet is about as poor an invention as I ever saw.” This rifle has the experimental Model 1884 front sight, a standard Buffington rear sight, the Model 1888 rod latch mechanism and ramrod bayonet, is numbered in the early Model 1879 range, and has an “SWP” cartouche dated “1891” on the left stock flat. It is fitted with a period leather sling. CONDITION: Fine as assembled. 85% of the arsenal blue finish remains with patches of light oxidation and brown patina. The breechblock retains nearly all of the rich case colors. The stock is very fine with a few dents and light scratches. The markings are distinct throughout including the stock cartouche. Mechanically fine. The sling is very good with some minor rub wear and crackling. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 1273 Exceptional Springfield U.S. Army Model 1871 Rolling Block Rifle - NSN, 50-70 cal., 36 inch round bbl., bright/ casehardened finish, walnut stock. Approximately 10,000 U.S. Army Rolling Block rifles were manufactured c. 1871-1872 by Springfield Armory. The right side of the frame has the eagle and shield design over “U.S./SPRINGFIELD/1872,” the left side has “MODEL 1871.,” and the tang has the Remington patent marking. The barrel has a “barley corn” style front sight that doubles as a bayonet lug, a notch and folding ladder rear sight, and an armory bright finish. It has a musket style forend secured by two barrel bands, a reproduction black leather sling, and a military style buttstock with an “ESA” (Erskine S. Allin)
cartouche marked on the left side of the wrist and a “US” marked on the buttplate.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine. The barrel and furniture are mostly a bright silver-gray with some faint patination. The frame retains about half of the lightly age faded original case colors. There
is some faint oxidation and pitting mainly on the buttplate. The wood is very fine and has minimal light handling and storage marks and a crisp cartouche. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 1,800 - 2,500
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Exceptional U.S
casehardened finish, w rifle has a blued barrel, ba