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LOT 3174 Civil War Merrill First Type Breech Loading Percussion Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 2563, 54 cal., 22 1/8 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Just under 14,500 Merrill carbines were manufactured in two variations during the Civil War. This example is the first type with slightly different stock contours, a patch box, and the early knurled latch. Merrill carbines were almost exclusively issued to cavalry units during the war, including units from New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kentucky, and Delaware. The top of the loading lever is marked “J.H. MERRILL BALTO./PAT. JULY .1858.” at the breech and the serial number on the arm. The lock plate is marked “J.H.MERRILL BALTO./PAT. JULY. 1858./APL 9. MAY 21-28-61.” at the front and is marked with the serial number behind the hammer. The barrel has a three-leaf rear sight and a fixed front blade front sight. The left stock flat has a saddle ring bar. CONDITION: Good with mottled gray and brown patina, aged patina on the brass, and moderate overall wear, including some pitting. The heavily worn stock is fair and has moderate overall wear, including some chipping along the edges, some splits in the grains, and moderate erosion. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000 LOT 3175 Fine Indian Wars Era U.S. Springfield Armory Altered Spencer Repeating Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 29378, 50 Spencer cal., 22 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This carbine is one of over 11,000 altered and refurbished by the Springfield Armory around 1867- 1874 with relined three-groove rifled barrels for use with both .56-52 and .56-50 ammunition, and fitted with a Stabler cut-off. It has the standard Spencer markings and sights, and the left of the stock behind the saddle bar is stamped with the “ESA” inspection cartouche of Erskine S. Allin, Springfield’s Master Armorer. CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% arsenal refurbished blue finish on the barrel with scattered smooth brown patina on the balance, and 50% of the case colors strongest in protected areas with smooth gray patina on the balance. Stock is also fine with defined edges, a few mild pressure dents on the left of the forend, a small re-glued piece behind the lock, some chipping on top behind the frame, some scattered handling marks on the buttstock, and a crisp cartouche. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 3176 Sharps New Model 1859 Breech Loading Percussion Shotgun Conversion - Serial no. 60385, 52 gauge, 22 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Originally a Civil War Sharps New Model 1859 carbine that has been converted to a breech loading shotgun, likely in the post-Civil War era due to a surplus of these weapons and the popularity of shotguns out West. The “NEW MODEL 1859” marked barrel is converted to smoothbore and measures at approximately 28 gauge, with a period modified reshaped blade front sight and standard ladder rear sight. Left side mounted sling bar and ring. Absent pellet primer internals (does not otherwise affect functionality of the gun). CONDITION: Fair as period converted to smoothbore and with frontier character, exhibiting smooth brown patina overall, evidence of old refinished blue finish, some areas of light to moderate pitting, and defined markings in the metal. Wood is also good as sanded and re-oiled, with scattered dents and scratches, and a few chipped edges. Mechanically excellent. Period modified front sight, modern replacement percussion nipple. Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500 LOT 3177 U.S. Civil War Massachusetts Arms Co. Smith Breech Loading Percussion Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 11482, 50 cal., 21 5/8 inch part octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. These Smith carbines were considered to be one of the most important Federal Cavalry carbines. This example was manufactured by Massachusetts Arms Company, Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts. Designed by Gilbert Smith, the production of this breech loading percussion carbine was almost entirely consumed by government contracts, with only limited numbers going to the civilian market. A total of 30,362 Smith carbines were reportedly purchased by the United States during the Civil War. Smith carbines were considered to be accurate and reliable weapons. Standard three sets of markings on the left side of the frame. Matching serial number on the receiver and barrel. Dovetail blade front sight and folding leaf rear sight correctly absent of yard markings. Mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip walnut stock with a steel buttplate. CONDITION: Very good, retains 30% original blue finish on the barrel with smooth brown patina on the balance, strong traces of case colors with smooth gray patina on the balance, and mostly defined markings and edges in the metal. Wood is also very good as lightly sanded and re-oiled, with a faint cartouche, some scattered scratches and handling marks. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
LOT 3178
Indian Wars Era U.S. Sharps New Model 1859 Metallic Cartridge Conversion Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 45900, 50-70 U.S. Govt cal., 22 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This Sharps was originally manufactured in 1863-1865 as a percussion carbine for use in the Civil War, and was one of 31,098 carbines returned by the U.S. Government to Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Co. in 1867, who received a contract for refurbishment and alteration of their rifles for use with metallic cartridges. This example features a sleeved barrel with three-groove rifling done at the time of alteration, and standard markings and features. Script “DFC” (David F. Clark) ribbon inspection cartouche marked on the left center of the buttstock and absent primer feed mechanism (does not affect function of the gun), as typical on these metallic cartridge conversion carbines. Modified rear sight in which the
ladder has been removed, still retains a notch. Modified saddle ring retainer with “Nilson” hand carved on the side plate. CONDITION: Very good, retains 50% arsenal refurbished blue finish on the barrel, mostly smooth silvery gray patina on the exposed casehardened surfaces with strong traces of arsenal refurbished case colors in protected areas, and scattered patches of light pitting. Wood is also fine as re-oiled, with defined edges, some scattered light dents and scratches, a chip on the bottom rear of the forend, and a clear cartouche. Mechanically excellent. Modified rear sight and saddle ring as described above. Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
LOT 3179 Civil War Era U.S. Martially Inspected Massachusetts Arms Co. Maynard “Model 1865” Breech Loading Percussion Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 24732, 50 cal., 20 inch part octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Approximately 20,000 Second Model Maynard carbines were manufactured between 1864-1865, with this example marked with an “1865” date on the lower tang as typically seen on sporting rifles; although the sporting rifles were manufactured at the same time as the standard Civil War contract carbines and this was likely a late delivered example of a Second Model carbine on contract utilizing an 1865 frame. Some were delivered late in the war and were issued and used by 6th, 9th, and 11th Indiana Cavalry and the 10th and 11th East Tennessee Union Cavalry. Pinched blade front sight, three leaf rear sight, “M” single letter inspection initial stamped on the left barrel flat at the breech, and two boxed script inspection cartouches stamped on the left of the stock wrist behind the lightly carved word “Mass”. CONDITION: Very good, retains 30% of the faded original blue finish mixed with scattered light pitting and brown patina, a silvery gray patina on the frame, and clear markings and edges in the metal. Stock is fine with some scattered light scratches and dents, carving as mentioned above, and defined cartouches. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500 135