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 Rare Civil War Repeating Rifles
  LOT 3142
Extremely Rare Civil War Era U.S. Marked E.G. Lamson & Co. Ball Patent Repeating Rifle - NSN, 50 RF cal., 34 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Extremely rare Ball patent rifle musket designed by Albert Ball and manufactured by E.G. Lamson & Co, and one of only a few known full length Ball breech loading military rifle muskets with very little published information and no known contract. A reported 1,002 Ball carbines were manufactured on contract starting in 1864 and delivered after the
  end of the Civil War. The Ball uses a tubular magazine similar to the Henry and later Winchesters. Interestingly, Winchester and Smith &
Wesson both purchased E.G. Lamson & Co.’s machinery after the war. Fixed front and unmarked folding ladder rear sight, cleaning rod on the right side of the forearm, left side of the receiver marked “E.G. LAMSON & CO./WINDSOR. VT./U.S./BALLS PATENT./ JUNE.23.1863/MAR. 15” (1864 date at the end is removed by the
magazine cutoff switch), and saddle ring and bar on the left side of the receiver as seen on the carbines. Smooth three-band forearm and straight grip stock with
no visible cartouche, and a steel crescent buttplate. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes leather sling and wood tampion.
CONDITION: Very good, mostly a gray/brown patina overall with scattered spotting, and traces of original case colors on the receiver. Wood is also very good with scattered dents and scratches. Mechanically excellent. This is as rare as they come in terms of U.S. Military long arms, and is the only example of a full length
Ball Rifle Musket to ever come through Rock Island.
Provenance: The George Moller Collection.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
Cavalry at the Battle of Little Bighorn. Per accompanying research compiled by the consignor, this Model 1860 rifle will letter from the Springfield Research Service as in a
range match of serial numbers containing 312 similar rifles issued to the 105th Pennsylvania Volunteers during the Civil War. Known as the “Wildcat Regiment,” the 105th
Pennsylvania Volunteers fought in the battles of Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Glendale, Malvern Hill, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness and Sportsvlvania Court
House to just name a few. At war’s end the 105th lost a total of 384 men. This Army model has the standard markings and features. Left side of the stock at the wrist has two faint boxed script inspection cartouches. CONDITION: Very good plus, the metal has turned to a mottled brown patina which is typical of authentic period use. Wood is very good with some scattered scratches and dents. Mechanically excellent. A solid representative example of a desirable Civil War M1860 Spencer rifle.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
      LOT 3143
Desirable Civil War U.S. Contract Spencer Army Model 1860 Repeating Rifle - Serial no.
28505, 52 Spencer cal., 30 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Only 11,470 Spencer Army Model rifles were manufactured and delivered in 1863-1865 which makes them significantly rarer than
the 100,000+ carbines manufactured by the Spencer Repeating Arms Co. and Burnside Rifle Co. by 1866. Spencer rifles and carbines
were easily among the most advanced weapons of the Civil War and remained in use during the late-19th century Indian Wars. General George Armstrong Custer and his Michigan “Wolverines” were armed with this model during the Civil War, including during the action of the Gettysburg
campaign. Many Spencers, particularly the carbines, made their way to the West, and some are known to have been used against General Custer and his 7th
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