Page 99 - Auction84-Book1
P. 99

 Desirable Civil War State Altered Longarms from the George Moller Collection
 LOT 200
Rare Documented U.S. Springfield Model 1816 Type III Percussion Musket Dated 1837 with Butterfield’s Patent Self-Priming Pennsylvania Contract Alteration and Bayonet - Serial no. 90, 69 cal., 42 inch round bbl.,
Collector’s Fact
One of 200 Butterfield Self Priming Muskets delivered to the State of Pennsylvania.
 AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS, VOL. III BY MOLLER
      bright finish, walnut stock. This is an example of a rare U.S. Springfield Model 1816 flintlock musket altered to Jesse S. Butterfield’s patented pellet primer mechanism. These Pennsylvania contract Butterfield alteration muskets are described on pages 84-85 of George D. Moller’s book “American Military Shoulder Arms, Volume III”, and this musket is pictured on the bottom of page 84. Moller notes that Butterfield was contracted
to convert 1,000 muskets on July 2, 1861, for $4.00 each. He made two deliveries of 100 muskets each on September 2
and November 6, 1861. This conversion consisted of installing a new bolster on the end of the barrel. The main conversion consisted
of installing a new pellet primer mechanism on the side of the lock. This mechanism had a tube located on the underside that held the “wafer-primer.” Each time the hammer was cocked, it would feed one primer up to a sliding bar located under the hammer that would position it over the nipple. The lock is marked “SPRING/FIELD/1837” vertically behind the hammer and “BUTTERFIELD’S/PATENT DEC 11, 1855/PHILADA” ahead of the hammer. The barrel markings were removed during the conversion. Oval script “ET” and “EB” inspection cartouches marked on the left stock flat. Serial number “90” is marked on the middle barrel band, underbelly of the stock ahead of the trigger guard, inside of the left side plate, left stock flat, inside the lock and its internal components, and inside of the buttplate. “US” marked buttplate tang. Single letter “S” marked on various components. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes “U.S.” marked socket bayonet and period leather sling with initials “MB” carved into it. CONDITION: Good with scattered moderate pitting and legible lock markings. Stock is also good with scattered chips and dents, a repaired section to the right of the barrel tang and behind the lock, and mostly legible cartouches. Mechanically excellent. Included bayonet is very good. A musket altered with Butterfield’s patented pellet primer mechanism is considered among the rarest and most desirable of the Civil War conversions. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 201
Documented State of Maine Ames Alteration Whitney Model 1841 Percussion “Mississippi Rifle” - NSN, 54 cal., 33 inch round bbl., brown/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Ames alterations of “Mississippi Rifles” for the state of Maine are described on pages 155-156 of “American Military Shoulder Arms, Volume III” by George Moller, and the muzzle end of this rifle is pictured on the bottom of page 155 next to the caption, “The bayonet studs installed by Ames Manufacturing Co. on 595 Model 1841 rifles owned by the state of Maine in 1861 were similar to the studs which Ames had installed on Massachusetts rifles, but were attached by a mortise and three pins.” The barrel has a brass blade front sight, fixed rear sight, bayonet stud with guide key for use with a saber bayonet, “US/SM” and “V/P” marked at the breech, and “1850” dated barrel tang. The lock is marked “E. WHITNEY/U.S.” at the center and “N. HAVEN/1851” on the tail. “US” marked buttplate tang. GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes a tool and spare nipple in the patch box, and a reproduction leather sling. CONDITION: Good with brown patina on the barrel mixed with brown finish, some light pitting at the breech, strong traces of case colors on the hammer, and crisp lock markings. Stock is also good as sanded and re-oiled with some scratches and mild dings, a crack/ absent section beneath the front band and to the left of the barrel, chips in the ramrod channel, and small chips behind the barrel tang and lock. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
LOT 202
Documented Massachusetts Marked Drake Alteration Robbins & Lawrence Model 1841 Percussion “Mississippi Rifle” with Bayonet and Accessories - Serial no. 431, 54 cal., 33 inch round bbl., brown/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Reportedly, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts contracted with A. J. Drake of Boston in 1862 to alter approximately 1,839 “Windsor rifles” (believed to have been Model 1841 rifles made by Robbins & Lawrence) they had on hand to accept a socket bayonet with a blade/stud front sight and three-leaf 500 yard Model 1858 rear sight. These Drake alteration Model 1841 rifles are described on pages 165-167 of George D. Moller’s book “American Military Shoulder Arms Volume III” with the buttplate of this exact rifle pictured on page 166 next to the caption, “Most of the Drake altered Model 1841 rifles saw service in the hands of the Massachusetts forty-sixth and fifty-first Infantry regiments.” The buttplate tang of this rifle is marked “U.S” ahead of “17/c/B” and the rear surface of the buttplate is marked “51 MASS”. “ROBBINS/&/LAWRENCE/U.S.” marked on the lock plate ahead of the hammer and “WINDSOR VT/1850” at the tail of the lock. “US/J.P.C./P” (James P. Chapman, initials are faint) marked on the left of the barrel at the breech and an “1850” dated barrel tang. Drake alteration number “431” marked on the underside of the barrel (requires disassembly to view). The straight wrist walnut stock has a brass patch box, and two inspection cartouches marked on the left flat including a boxed script “LBC” (Luke B. Chase) and an oval script “WAT” (William A. Thornton). Brass tipped trumpet head iron ramrod. Sling swivels mounted on the barrel band and front of the trigger guard. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes a Drake pattern socket bayonet marked “K.86” on the socket, period leather sling, tools and an extra nipple in the patchbox. CONDITION: Good with scattered moderate dark pitting overall and mostly clear markings in the metal. Stock is very good with some light scratches and dents, a crack ahead of the rear lock screw, and crisp cartouches. Mechanically excellent. Included bayonet is very good with sharp edges and some scattered areas of light pitting, sling is fine with some light cracking. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
97
    AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS, VOL. III BY MOLLER
Collector’s Fact
According to author George Moller, bayonet studs were installed by Ames Manuf. Co. on only 595 Model 1841 rifles for the state of Maine.
     AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS, VOL. III BY MOLLER
   Collector’s Fact
1,839 rifles were altered to accept a socket bayonet by A.J. Drake for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
 













































































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