Page 92 - Auction84-Book2

LOT 1201
Civil War Patrick Smith New York Union Continentals Percussion Smoothbored Rifle with Presentation Plaque Inscribed to A. F. Tripp - Serial no. 84, 60 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. 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. These rifles are described on pages 438-441 of George D. Moller’s book “American Military Shoulder Arms Volume III”. The front sight doubles as a socket bayonet lug, flip-up three leaf rear sight, smoothbore, “P. SMITH/BUFFALO” marked on top of the barrel flat at the breech, “84” marked on the barrel tang, unmarked lock, “Union Continental/A. F. TRIPP/1861/M. Fillmore Comitt.” inscribed in script and Gothic letters on a German silver oval presentation plaque on the right side of the buttstock. Walnut half length stock fitted with a curved steel butt plate. CONDITION: Very good with brown finish mixed with artificially applied brown patina on the barrel, trigger guard, and buttplate with some scattered areas of mild pitting. Retains patterns of case colors on the hammer with the lock turned to a gray patina with mottled brown spotting. Stock is also very good with scattered light dents and scratches, some light crazing on the left flat, and various cracks around the buttplate. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 1202
Very Scarce Manton Marked Eli Whitney Variant Model 1861 Rifle-Musket with Bayonet - NSN, 58 cal.,
40 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. This very scarce variant Model 1861 rifle- musket with a “Manton” marked lock was manufactured by Eli Whitney Jr. using inferior surplus European barrels and marked with the fake British gunmaker name “Manton” as a cover up since Whitney did not want to put his name on these
due to quality concerns. These “Manton” Whitney variant rifle-muskets are described in depth on pages 495-498 of George D. Moller’s book “American Military Shoulder Arms Volume III” in which the picture caption on page 495 states, “Available information indicates 1,070 Whitney ‘Manton’ rifle muskets were delivered by merchants Fitch & Waldo
to the state of New York during the summer of 1863. One hundred and nine of them failed inspection.” The same page of the book has a quote from a letter written by Whitney
to a sales agent in which he states, “I can not promise more than 1,000 of the ‘Manton’ muskets and these only to be subject to State Inspection as good and serviceable work being
as a general thing as the sample and if any are rejected it will lessen the number so much (from 1,000). My object in putting the ‘Manton’ on the lock was to avoid selling the muskets as mine.” The
European barrel on this example has 3-groove rifling and is fitted with a fixed blade front and flip-up Whitney mid-range single leaf rear sight marked “3” and “5” on top of the leaf (this rear sight is a leftover from his Connecticut contract arms). Dated “1862” on the tail of the lock. “V/P” proof marks on the top flat of the barrel at the breech and “G.W.Q.” inspection initials on the top left barrel flat. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. These “Manton” marked Whitney rifle-muskets are also described in “Flayderman’s Guide 9th Edition” on page 286 (5J-045). Includes a “U.S.” marked socket bayonet and reproduction leather sling. CONDITION: Good with some scattered very light pitting, moderate flash pitting at the breech, and crisp markings in the metal. Stock is also good with scattered dents and scratches, a chipped/absent section on the right of the forend, and a crack ahead of the lock. Mechanically excellent. Included bayonet is fine with some light pitting. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 1203
Documented Civil War Eli Whitney Type II Percussion Militia Rifle with Saber Bayonet - NSN, 58 cal., 33 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. Whitney Militia rifles are described in depth on pages 460-471 of George D. Moller’s book “American Military Shoulder Arms, Volume III” with this exact rifle pictured on pages 468 and 469 under the description for “Whitney (Type II) Militia Rifle (Model 1855/1841 Configuration)” in which defining features are described.
The picture caption on page 468 states, “Whitney Type II militia rifles are equipped with unfinished Model 1855 lockplates and U.S. Model 1855 rifle barrels believed to have been among the condemned components purchased from Harpers Ferry Armory.” The picture caption on page 469 states, “The locks of Whitney Type II militia rifles are often described as ‘low hump.’ Note Whitney’s variation of the long-range rear sight.” Page 468 states, “The federal government also purchased almost 1,000 Whitney rifles during the Civil War. Several hundred of these are known to have been Whitney militia rifles purchased for the state of Ohio. The Ordnance Department purchased 478 rifles on November 8, 1861, and 500 rifles on February 11, 1862, from arms merchants Schuyler, Hartley & Graham, at $21.00 each.” Blade front and ladder rear sight. Model 1841 rifle style stock and brass fittings. Stamped “P.S.NEWTON/HARTFORD CT.” on the left stock flat. Includes a period leather sling and brass handled saber bayonet with a brass tipped “OHIO” marked leather scabbard. CONDITION: Good with scattered mild pitting, dark patina, and clear lock markings. Retains an attractive golden aged patina on the brass bands. Stock is very good as lightly sanded with some light scratches, a crack ahead of the rear lock screw, a gap behind the right rear of the barrel, a gouge at the left front of the trigger guard, a crack with chips on the right of the buttstock, and a crisp stamp on the left flat. Mechanically fine. Included bayonet is very good with sharp edges and some mottled brown patina with some moderate pitting on the tip of the blade, and attractive bright patina on the brass handle. Scabbard is fine and sling is very good with some light age related cracking overall. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 1204
Whitney Arms Co. Marked U.S. Springfield Model 1863 Type I Percussion Rifle-Musket with Bayonet - NSN, 58 cal., 40 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Approximately 273,000 Springfield Model 1863 Type I rifle-muskets were manufactured c. 1863-1864 with the screw fastened barrel bands. These rifles are significant in the history of U.S. martial arms, as they armed Union troops and saw widespread use in the latter years of the Civil War. Solid blade front and 500 yard two-leaf rear sight. Casehardened “1863” dated “U.S./SPRINGFIELD” marked lock. Blued “1863” dated barrel, ramrod, barrel bands, rear sight, trigger guard, and buttplate. The left stock flat is marked with two bordered script cartouches including that of Springfield Master Armorer Erskine S. Allin, and the right of the buttstock is marked with a large eagle and shield over “WHITNEY ARMS Co”. Eli Whitney Jr. reorganized his family’s business in 1863 as the Whitney Arms Co. and is known to have purchased condemned and leftover parts from the U.S. armories as well as other outside contractors primarily to sell to states and militia units, with some sources stating these Model 1863 rifle-muskets with
the Whitney stamp were likely assembled post-Civil War. Regardless, this example is as it would have been from Springfield. “US” marked buttplate tang. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes a US socket bayonet and reproduction leather sling. CONDITION: Fine, retaining 50% original blue finish thinning to a smooth brown and gray patina, some wear from bayonet mounting, areas of light flaking, and some light pitting. 60% vivid original case colors remain on the lock with scattered spotting and crisp lock markings. Stock is also fine with defined edges and attractive raised grain, scattered light scratches and dents, some scattered moderate chips, repaired sections visible on the left flat behind both of the lock screws, and crisp cartouches. Mechanically excellent. Included bayonet is very good with sharp edges and some scattered patches of mild surface corrosion. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS, VOL. III BY MOLLER
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