Page 96 - Auction84-Book2

LOT 1215 Civil War U.S. Sharps & Hankins Model 1862 Navy Carbine - Serial no. 3044, 52 RF cal., 24 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Government records list 6,686 of these carbines purchased for the Navy. Many saw extensive use during the war in both the Union’s “blue water” and “brown water” navies. The leather cover on the barrel is secured by a band at the muzzle and screws at the breech and was designed to protect the barrel from corrosive saltwater; many are badly damaged or entirely absent due to extensive service, unlike this fine example which survived its service with all of the leather covering. It has a band at the muzzle, blade front sight, adjustable rear sight, and standard Sharps & Hankins markings. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. CONDITION: Very good plus with strong silvered out patterns of case colors visible on the frame with some very light small patches of pitting, and bright patina on the brass buttplate. The leather barrel cover is also very good with some areas of flaking and some light cracking. The re-oiled wood is also very good with some light scratches and some chips at the toe. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 1216 Civil War Merrill Second Type Breech Loading Percussion Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 14059, 54 cal., 22 1/8 inch round bbl., bright/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Just under 14,500 Merrill carbines were manufactured in two variations during the Civil War. This example is the second type with slightly different stock contours, no patch box, and the button type latch. Merrill carbines were almost exclusively issued to cavalry units during the war, including units from New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kentucky, and Delaware. The top of the loading lever is marked “J.H. MERRILL BALTO/PAT. JULY. 1858”. The lock plate is marked “J.H.MERRILL BALTO./PAT. JULY. 1858./APL 9. MAY 21-28-61” at the front and dated “1863.” behind the hammer. The barrel has a notch rear sight with two folding leaves and a fixed front blade front sight. The left stock flat has a saddle ring bar. “U.S.” marked buttplate tang. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Barrel band screw absent. CONDITION: Very good, displaying brightly polished metal, smooth gray patina on the balance with some patches of light pitting, sharp edges and defined markings in the metal. Stock is fine with defined edges, a few mild gouges on top of the buttstock, and some light scratches and handling marks. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
LOT 1217 Sharps Model 1852 Slant Breech Percussion Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 2169, 52 cal., 21 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Approximately 4,997 manufactured between 1853-1855 by Robbins & Lawrence of Windsor, Vermont, for Sharps before production shifted to the very similar Model 1853. This is the earliest Sharps Model with the distinctive “slanting breech” and is fitted with the lever hinge pin retaining spring mounted on the right rear of the forearm. The top of the barrel is marked “ROBBINS &/LAWRENCE” behind the rear sight. The upper tang is marked “C.SHARPS/PATENT/1848” followed by the serial number, and the lock is marked “C.SHARPS’/PATENT./1852.” Brass blade front and ladder rear sight. Sling ring and saddle bar mounted on the left of the barrel band and receiver. Mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with brass patch box and carbine buttplate. CONDITION: About good with an old refinish, exhibiting a mix of artificial brown and gray patina overall with some light pitting and file marks visible. Wood is good as lightly sanded, with some scattered light dents and scratches, a small crack ahead of the forearm screw, a filled in section above the lock, chips behind the lock, and a repaired section at the toe. Brass is very good overall with attractively aged “mustard yellow patina”. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
LOT 1218 Civil War U.S. Joslyn Breech Loading Saddle Ring Carbine - Serial no. 3336, 52 RF cal., 22 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This Model 1862 carbine falls late within the transitional serial number range (estimated as 2400-3600), but the breechblock is the hook type modified with a catch rather than the Model 1864 type catch. It is numbered “3336” on the tang and “3513” on the breechblock and otherwise has the standard markings and features and a “GDM” collection mark by the toe. CONDITION: Good with traces of the thin blue finish remaining on the barrel and upper tang, traces of original case colors, and attractive aged patina on the brass. The stock is also good and has mild dents and scratches. The breech latch is finicky, but the carbine is mechanically fine. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 1,600 - 2,250
LOT 1219 Scarce Civil War U.S. Contract Gwyn & Campbell Type I “Grapevine” Breech Loading Percussion Carbine - Serial no. B61, 50 cal., 20 inch part octagon bbl., blue/ casehardened finish. These “Union Rifles” were manufactured by Edward Gwyn and Abner C. Campbell in Ohio and are essentially updated versions of their prior Cosmopolitan carbines. This example has the standard Type I markings and features and also has “52” stamped by the serial numbers and on the breechblock and a “GDM” collection mark by the toe. Only approximately 700 of this variation were manufactured c. 1863-1864. CONDITION: Good with mostly a dark patina overall, mild pitting, modified front sight, distinct markings, and general moderate overall wear. The stock is also very good and has a refreshed cartouche, old coat of finish, thin crack below the lock, and scattered dings. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750 LOT 1220 Massachusetts Arms Co. First Model Maynard Breech Loading Percussion Carbine - Serial no. 53, 50 cal., 20 inch part round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This carbine is an early First Model marked “MAYNARD ARMS CO. WASHINGTON” on the right of the frame and does not have the usual peep sight on the upper tang. Number “53” is stamped on the inside of the tape primer lid. The barrel is from a different early First Model and has “397” on the bottom at the breech and a “JT” inspection mark on the left at the breech. The other markings and features are standard. The stock has no inspection markings and is stamped with a “GDM” collection mark near the toe. Some of the First Model Maynard carbines were issued to the U.S. Army in the West prior to the Civil War, including to the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen and 1st U.S. Cavalry, and additional carbines were issued at the beginning of the Civil War. CONDITION: Fair with brown patina and mild pitting, repaired barrel pin, and some replaced small parts. The slightly undersized stock has some chips and filled spots by the repaired, rewelded lower tang and light scratches and marks. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
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