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Fleeting Opportunity to Own One of the Rarest Martially Inspected U.S. Carbines
"One of only 10 Contract Schroeder Needle Fire U.S. Trial Carbines purchased in 1857 & the only known example."
LOT 208
Incredibly Rare and Historically Important Schroeder U.S. Contract Martially Inspected Needle Fire Trials Carbine - NSN, 53 cal., 20 7/8 inch octagon bbl., brown finish, walnut stock. Designed by Hermann Schroeder, William Schmidt and Louis Salewski of Bloomington, Illinois, as evidenced by patent number 16,288 dated December 23rd, 1856. In the patent text it states, “The nature of our invention relates to that class of fire-arms termed ‘breech- loading guns;’ and it consists in so uniting the barrel with the cock or hammer
as that the act of moving forward the barrel to open its breech shall cock the gun... The charge which we use is the loaded cartridge with the pellet or priming in front of instead of in the rear of the powder, and the ball may be conical or
NOTICE THE CARTOUCHE MARKED "R.H.K.W."
of any other well-known form or construction.” Similar to the Prussian Dreyse needle guns of the same time period in use overseas. The Army Ordnance Board tested the Schroeder in July of 1856 and contracted for ten carbines in 1857. Further trials were performed with the ten contract carbines in March of 1860 by the Ordnance Board, but at that time the gun was deemed unfit for military service. Flayderman’s Guide states, “This very rare and unusual arm has the distinction of being the only needle fire weapon purchased on contract
by the U.S. Government. The order for ten is believed all that were purchased.” Silver blade front and three-position flip-up rear sight. Brass disc depicting an “Eagle with shield/U.S.” on the upper tang, and brass fittings. “GDM”
(George D. Moller) small collection intials marked at the toe of
the stock. The right side flat of the stock marked with an inverted “R.H.K.W.” (Robert Henry Kirkwood Whiteley, Captain) boxed script inspection cartouche, indicating this example as one of the ten trials carbines. This is the first and only Schroeder needle fire carbine this writer has seen publicly offered for sale.
CONDITION: Very good plus, retaining a pleasing patina with some areas of light surface pitting, and attractive bright brass fittings. Wood is very good with some scattered handling marks and scratches, a repair underneath the forend, a repaired section on the right rear, reattached/resoldered forward triggerguard with visible interior peen marks, two small collection tag holes on the right rear, absent sling swivel below, and a crisp cartouche. Mechanically excellent. This is a golden opportunity to acquire one of the rarest, most desirable U.S. Martial carbines extant! Provenance: The George Moller Collection.
Estimate: 35,000 - 55,000
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