Page 159 - Auction84-Book1

LOT 291
Early Production Springfield/ Winchester-Hotchkiss First Model Army Bolt Action Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 120, 45-70 Government cal., 24 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This First Model Hotchkiss carbine was built using a mix of Winchester and Springfield components and would have been used in early Army field trials. Only 501 are believed to have been manufactured. Many were converted into Second Models in 1881 or otherwise altered and re-issued for additional trials. Table #5 Springfield Research Service list on page 342 of the book “U.S. Military Bolt Action Rifles” by Bruce Canfield lists this example by serial number as having been shipped from Springfield Armory on June 7th, 1879, although it is listed as a rifle rather than a carbine (they were made in the same serial number sequence). It has a pinned blade front sight, notch and folding ladder rear sight, “US” and “V/P/eagle head” proof and inspection marks at the breech, the three-line Winchester address and Hotchkiss patent marking on the left side of the action followed by the serial number, Henry
Nettleton “HN.” inspector marks on the bolt, the distinctive first model magazine cut-off on the right, a correct First Model oval “ESA/1878” (partial) inspection cartouche marked next to the saddle ring on the left, and a script “P” proof behind the trigger guard. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Information on these Hotchkiss carbines can be found in Man at Arms- July/Aug 1986- “The Wartime Winchesters” and the book “U.S. Military Bolt Action Rifles” pages 42-44, both by Bruce Canfield. CONDITION: Very good plus, retaining 30% original blue finish on the receiver with some loss on the rear sight and breech end of the refinished barrel, and some patches of mild pitting on the bolt and receiver. Stock is fine with some light scratches, chips behind the receiver, attractive grain, and a partial but otherwise crisp cartouche. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 292
Scarce Springfield Winchester-Hotchkiss Second Model Army Bolt Action Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 12814, 45-70 Government cal., 24 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. A total of approximately 400 Second Model carbines were manufactured for the U.S. Army in 1880-81 by Springfield Armory using Winchester supplied actions and buttplates. The rifle has a blued barrel, receiver, and trigger guard. The bolt is bright, and the walnut stock is oil finished. The safety and magazine cutoff are located on the top of the receiver, and the barrel is fitted with blade front sight and a Buckhorn folding ladder rear sight correctly marked with “H.C.” on the 600 yard base and 1,400 yard ladder. The left side of the receiver is marked with the three-line address and patent marking. The top left flat surface of the receiver is marked with the serial number “12814” followed by the Henry Nettleton’s Ordnance inspector’s initials “HN.”, which is also marked on the bolt. The top of the barrel at the breech is also marked with “U.S.” and “V/P/eagle head” proofs. The left rear of the stock is marked with Samuel W. Porter’s boxed script “SWP/1881” inspection cartouche, and the right rear of the stock is marked with Henry Nettleton’s circled script “HN” inspection cartouche. The front of the stock has the a nickel forend cap and contains a two-piece cleaning rod stored inside the forend. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. CONDITION: Very good, retaining 40% original blue finish thinning to a brown patina with scattered light spotting. Stock is very good plus with
attractive raised grain, a few hairline cracks at the forend, a noticeable semi-circular crack visible on the left of the wrist and behind the upper tang, a chip at the toe, and crisp cartouches. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 293
Exceptional Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878 Single Shot Military Rifle - Serial no. 8782, 45-70 Government cal., 32 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Approximately 6,900 of these military rifles were manufactured between 1878-1881, making them the bulk of the roughly 8,700 Model 1878 rifles manufactured in total. They were purchased by a variety of state governments, the National Rifle Association, and the governments of China and some South American countries. It has a military style blade/bayonet stud front sight, adjustable notch and folding ladder rear sight, sling swivels on the front barrel band and bottom of the action, the Old Reliable marking and Bridgeport address on top near the breech, no visible caliber markings, and standard patent and address markings on the left side of the action. A circled cartouche containing what appears to be a backwards “B” is on the left of the buttstock. CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 85% plus original blue finish with some handling marks and sharp markings. Breech block and lever turned to a smooth gray patina with strong traces of case colors in protected areas. Wood is fine with some scattered light scratches, a hairline crack on the underside of the forend ahead of the frame, and a crisp cartouche. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 294 U.S. Springfield Infantry Rifle Conversion of a Burnside Model 1865 Spencer Repeating Carbine - Serial no. 25826, 56-50 cal., 32 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. In approximately 1871 Springfield Armory converted 1,108 Burnside- Spencer carbines by fitting the actions with rifle length barrels chambered for .50 caliber ammunition with three groove rifling. The armory also refurbished the parts and added a nearly full length forearm with two barrel bands and a slotted cleaning rod. The left side of the stock, just behind the saddle ring base, is marked with the correct “ESA” cartouche, and the other components have the standard Burnside and armory markings including matching serial numbers. It has a blade front sight, notch and folding ladder rear sight, and the Stabler cut-off device. CONDITION: Very good as arsenal converted/refurbished, retains 20% arsenal blue finish with the balance a smooth grey patina and some scattered patches of very light pitting. Faded patterns of original case colors remain on the receiver. The sanded, reoiled wood is also very good with some scattered light handling marks, some chipping along the ramrod channel,
and some oil darkening around the receiver. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
Collector’s Fact
Only 501 are believed to have been manufactured.
Collector’s Fact
A total of approximately 400 Second Model carbines were manufactured for the U.S. Army in 1880-81 by Springfield Armory.
157