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SIMILAR EXAMPLE PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK SPENCER REPEATING FIREARMS BY MARCOT
LOT 3161
Exceptional
Example of
a Rare U.S.
Inspected
Ten-Tube Blakeslee
“Quickloader” for a Spencer
Carbine - Manufactured by
W.H. Wilkinson of Springfield Massachusetts. The Blakeslee
cartridge box was designed to
hold ten metal tubes each of
which contained seven .50 caliber Spencer
LOT 3160
Exceptional Civil War U.S. Spencer Model 1860 Army Repeating Rifle with Bayonet - Serial no. 23315, 52 RF cal., 30 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. 11,470 of these innovative rifles were manufactured for the U.S. government in 1863 and 1864 within primarily the 700-11000 serial number range. Rifles of this model were with Colonel Wilder’s “Lightning Brigade” at Hoover’s Gap and General Custer’s Michigan “Wolverines” at Gettysburg. It has a brass blade front sight that doubles as a bayonet lug, six-groove rifling, three barrel bands, an 800 yard folding ladder rear sight, the three-line Spencer address and patent marking on the top at the breech, and smooth buttstock with the standard 7-round tubular magazine inserted through the buttplate. Left side of the barrel at the breech marked with inspector initials “M”. Left side behind the stock screw is marked with circled script inspector cartouche “MMJ” (Martin M. Johnson) and “DAP” (Dwight A. Perkins). Ahead of the buttplate marked with small inspector initials “D.A.P.”, and “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes leather sling, socket bayonet, leather scabbard marked on the frog “R. NECE/PHILAD.” and “A.D. LAIDLEY/U.S./ORD.DEPT/SUB INSPECTOR”, and wood tampion. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retaining 70% original blue finish on the barrel with some light thinning and muzzle wear, 75% plus vivid original case colors on the frame and fittings, and some scattered light freckling overall. Wood is very fine plus with some light scratches and dents, and crisp cartouches. Mechanically excellent. Included bayonet and leather scabbard are both very fine. An exceptional example of one of the most innovative firearms of the Civil War! Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 14,000 - 22,500
cartridges. The tubes could be used to rapidly reload the seven-round Spencer carbine magazine. The Blakeslee cartridge box consists of a leather covered wooden block drilled with ten
holes for the cartridge tubes and ten tinned metal tubes. The box has a hinged lid with closure strap, a brass closure finial near the top of the box, a leather shoulder strap with two brass swivels on the sides of the
box and a belt loop with brass finial on the back of the box. The box and shoulder strap are made of black harness leather. The face of the cartridge box is stamped: “BLAKESLEES CARTRIDGE BOX” in an arch over “U.S./PATd DEC 20 1864/REISSUED FEB.7.1865/W.H. WILKINSON/MAKER/SPRINGFIELD,MASS.” in six lines. A smaller, “U.S.” property mark is stamped below the manufacturer’s markings. A script Ordnance inspection mark is stamped on the closure strap. The Ordnance Department purchased 32,000, ten tube, “Cavalry Style” Blakeslee cartridge boxes from W.H. Wilkinson and Emerson, Gaylord and Co., between 1864 and 1866. Although the Blakeslee cartridge boxes had the potential to provide a high sustained rate of fire for troopers armed with the Spencer carbine, the cartridge boxes were heavy and
cumbersome. The Civil War ended before significant numbers of them were delivered. The cartridge boxes apparently saw only limited
use following the Civil War.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine. The black leather is smooth with a few
very minor flex marks and minimal flaking. All of the stitching is tight. The shoulder strap, usually missing from surviving Blakeslee cartridge boxes,
is original and complete with the keeper. The ten cartridge tubes are all original and very fine. The tubes retain 90% of the original tinned finish. The maker’s name and patent markings on the front of the box are sharp and clear. The Ordnance inspection mark on the closure tab is legible. Complete Blakeslee cartridge boxes are rare. This exceptional, complete and original Blakeslee cavalry ten-tube cartridge box is one of the finest examples of a Blakeslee cartridge box extant.
Provenance: The George Moller Collection.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
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