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LOT 1214
Rare Earliest Type Civil War Cosmopolitan Arms Co. Double Loop Enclosed Lever Percussion Carbine - Serial no. 79, 52 cal., 19 inch part octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. A total of approximately 1,140 Cosmopolitan carbines were manufactured from 1859 to 1862 and purchased by the state of Illinois for cavalry regiments. The 6th Illinois Cavalry, for instance, used these carbines during the famous Grierson’s Raid that diverted Confederate attention from Grant’s Vicksburg campaign. According to Flayderman’s Guide, this is one of only approximately 50 of the early variant with the double loop enclosed lever. Lock plate marked “COSMOPOLITAN ARMS CO./HAMILTON O. U.S./GROSS’ PATENT”. Matching numbers “79” on the bottom of the barrel and
frame. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes wood tampion. CONDITION: Very good with brown and gray patina overall with some mild pitting around the frame and lever. The wood is good as lightly sanded and re-oiled with a repaired crack at the wrist. Mechanically fair, the hammer will not stay cocked. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500 LOT 1215 Very Scarce Early Production Merrill Breech Loading Percussion Carbine with “Staple” Front Sight Serial Number 271 - Serial no. 271, 54 cal., 22 1/8 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Total production of type I and II Merrill carbines by James H. Merrill of Baltimore, Maryland, was just under 14,500, and nearly all were issued to Union cavalry units including several from New York and Pennsylvania. Merrill was in Washington, D.C. in 1816 and initially worked with his brother William as a gunsmith in Baltimore in the 1840s. His first breech loading design was patented in 1856. This example is a very early type I carbine and has the rarely seen “staple” blade front sight and lacks government inspection markings. It features a notch rear sight with two folding leaves marked for 300 and 500 yards, brass patch box and furniture, knurled latch, a sling bar and ring attached to the brass side plate on the left stock flat, matching serial numbers on the tail of the lock and lever, the early style two line marking “J.H. MERRILL BALTO/PAT.JULY, 1858” on the lock below the bolster, and “J.H. MERRILL BALTO./PAT. JULY 1858.” on the top of the breech lever. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes wood tampion. CONDITION: Very good, retaining 30% original blue finish concentrated on the front half of the barrel mixed with brown, and mostly turned to a smooth gray/brown patina on the rear half of the barrel and lock, with some light flash pitting. Brass fittings retain a pleasing aged patina. Stock is also very good as refinished with some light handling marks, scratches, a thin crack on the left wrist, and overall defined edges. Mechanically excellent. A pleasing example of a very scarce early Merrill Civil War carbine that would make a fine addition to any U.S. Martial collection! Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1216
Scarce U.S. Contract Remington Type I Split Breech Rolling Block Carbine -
Serial no. 2769, 44 RF cal., 20 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. 5,000 of these carbines were manufactured by Savage Revolving Arms Co. for Remington to fulfill a U.S. Government contract, with completed deliveries from February-April of 1865. 3,500 were repurchased from the government by Remington in 1870 and then resold to the French for use in the Franco-Prussian War. Features include a “pinched” blade front sight, notch rear sight with folding leaf, two-line Remington address and patent markings on the upper tang, saddle ring and bar on the left side of the frame, and matching serial
numbers on the bottom of the barrel and front of the frame. Boxed script cartouches “PB” and “CGC” on the left side of the stock wrist, as well as a small “CGC” inspection mark on top of the comb. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes wood tampion. CONDITION: Very good with a pleasing smooth brown patina overall, and some very light patches of surface pitting. Wood is also very good with scattered dents and scratches. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 1217
U.S. Contract Remington Type II “Split Breech” Carbine - NSN, 50 RF cal., 20 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. The “Split Breech Carbines” were manufactured for Remington under a sub-contract with Savage Revolving Arms Company and were the first Remington long guns to use metallic cartridges and the last contract arms supplied to the U.S. Government at the conclusion of the Civil War. These Type II split breech
carbines were manufactured circa 1865-1866 and were first delivered five months after the conclusion
of the Civil War. The upper tang is marked “REMINGTON’S. ILION. N.Y./PAT. DEC. 23, 1863. MAY 3, & NOV. 16,
1864”, and the serial number is marked on the left front of the frame under the forearm and on the bottom of the barrel. The buttplate is marked “US” and the left side of the wrist is marked with a boxed script “CGC” (Charles G. Curtis)
inspection cartouche. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes wood tampion.
CONDITION: Very good plus, retaining 30% thinning original blue finish on the barrel with scattered patches of mild pitting, and 20% case colors on the frame turned mostly to a gray patina with scattered light pitting. Wood is very good with some scattered dents and scratches, a few filled in chips on either side of the buttstock, and a crisp cartouche. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
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Collector’s Fact
According to author Norm Flayderman, this carbine is one of only approximately 50 of the early variant with the double loop enclosed lever.