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LOT 3147
Historic Documented Canadian Captured Fenian Brotherhood Contract U.S. Remington Model 1863 Type I Percussion Rifle-Musket with Bayonet - NSN, 58 cal., 40 inch round bbl., bright/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Model 1863 rifle-muskets are
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS, VOL. III BY MOLLER
John Mahoney
Collector’s Fact
According to author George Moller, this rifle is 1 of fewer than 100 Union Continental Rifles manufactured by Patrick Smith.
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS, VOL. III BY MOLLER
92
described on pages 322-332 of George D. Moller’s book “American Military Shoulder Arms Volume III”, with this exact Fenian used and Canadian captured, Remington manufactured, rifle photographed on page 330 and 331. The book states, “The Fenian Brotherhood, an organization dedicated to freeing Ireland from British rule, was founded in the United States by John Mahoney in 1858. The Brotherhood’s members bound themselves by an oath of allegiance to a ‘free Irish Republic’ and swore to take up arms when called upon.
It was determined, in October 1865, to invade Canada with the goal of turning it into a free Irish republic. Large numbers of Irish Americans were discharged from the Union Army in 1865. In early April 1866, 500 Fenians assembled at Eastport, Maine for an attack on New Brunswick, Canada. The U.S. government seized 1,200 rifle muskets that had been shipped to Rouse’s Point on May 19. Another seizure of arms was made at Saint Albans, Vermont, on May 30. On June 1, about 1,500 men crossed the border into Canada but were met by the Dominion militia, and were defeated in a severe skirmish the following day. When they recrossed the border into the United States, 700 were captured by U.S. authorities under General Meade. They were ultimately released and the
arms were returned to the Fenian organization. John O’Neill became president of the Fenian Brotherhood in America in December 1867. In 1868, some 6,000 armed Fenian soldiers paraded at a Fenian convention in Philadelphia. A second attempted assault on Canada was made in April 1870. They crossed the border near Franklin, Vermont, but were dispersed by a single volley from Canadian volunteers. This effectively ended the Fenians’ designs on Canada. Although specific purchase information is not known, surviving ‘1864’ and ‘1865’ dated Model 1863 rifled muskets made by both Remington and Jenks are known with Fenian acceptance markings... Instead of the usual oval ordnance acceptance cartouche stamped into the stocks’ left breech
flats, they have been stamped ‘IN’ in block letters. Some rifle muskets captured by the Canadian militia have markings that suggest their subsequent use by the Canadian military. The barrel of one example, made by Remington, has a British black powder proof [this exact rifle offered] consisting of a crown over script ‘BP’ over ‘25’ immediately forward of the usual ‘V’, ‘P,’ and eagle’s head.” Nearly all the M1863 Type I and Type II Rifle-Muskets were manufactured by Springfield Armory and information on contractor produced M1863 Rifle-Muskets is limited. This is a standard
pattern M1863 Type I Rifle Musket distinguished by the flat faced, beveled hammer, bolster with no provision for a clean-out hole, screw-fastened barrel bands, two-leaf folding rear sight, straight shank ramrod with tulip head and lack of band springs on the stock. The barrel and iron furniture are finished “National Armory Bright”, the lock, hammer and trigger have a case-hardened finish and the rear sight is blued. The stock is oil finished black walnut. The lock plate is dated “1864” behind the hammer and marked with the Eagle and Shield motif over “U.S.” immediately in front of the
hammer followed by “REMINGTON’S/ILION, N.Y.” in two lines. The bolster is stamped with a small Eagle and Shield Motif. The top barrel flat is dated “1864” in the correct large numerals. The inspector’s initials
“G.M.” are stamped on the left flat of the breech end of the barrel. The top of the buttplate is marked “US”. A small “A” is stamped on the rear of the lower tang ahead of a “W” behind the lower tang. “R” and “G” sub-inspection marks are stamped on the left side of the three barrel bands. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes US socket bayonet, leather sling, and wood tampion. CONDITION: Fine, bright surfaces with some scattered light patches of pin-prick pitting, and 70% darkened case colors on the lock with some scattered light freckling, and crisp markings overall in the metal surfaces. Stock is very fine with some scattered scratches and dents and a chip behind the barrel tang. Mechanically excellent. Included bayonet is very fine with some patches of light pitting. A historically significant example of a U.S. Remington Model 1863 rifle-musket with definitive markings linking it’s use by the Fenian Brotherhood for invasion and subsequent capture by the Canadian military! Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
LOT 3148
Documented Patrick Smith New York Union Continentals Percussion Rifle with Presentation Plaque Inscribed to Jacob M. Smit with Bayonet - Serial no. 19, 58 cal., 36 inch round bbl., brown/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Fewer than 100 of these Union Continentals rifles are believed to have been made by Patrick Smith of Buffalo, New York. These rifles are described on pages 438- 441 of George D. Moller’s book “American Military Shoulder Arms Volume III”, with this exact rifle photographed on three of the pages. The Union Continentals, commanded by Millard Fillmore and active throughout the Civil War, escorted New York volunteer companies that had been called
up as they marched through Buffalo to join the war, escorted parades when they returned from combat, recruited men for the New York regiments, and formed honor guards at several funerals. Front sight doubles as a socket bayonet lug, flip-up three leaf rear sight, five-groove rifling, “P. SMITH/BUFFALO” marked on top of the barrel flat at the breech, unmarked lock, German silver oval presentation plaque on right side of the buttstock inscribed in script “Union Continental/Jacob M. Smit./1861/M. Fillmore Committ.”, “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes standard US socket bayonet, leather sling, and wood tampion. CONDITION: Very good, with brown patina surfaces on the barrel, trigger guard, and buttplate with some scattered areas of mild pitting. 50% plus original case colors strongest on the hammer, lock retains strong traces of original case colors under mottled brown patina. Stock is very good as refinished with some light handling marks and a filled in section at the right behind the end cap. Mechanically excellent. Included bayonet is fine. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000