Civil War — Long Guns
179 Spencer Model 1860 Carbine 56-52 Spencer, 22” round barrel, S/N 12013. Blued and case hardened finish, walnut stock and fore-end. Leaf rear sight, blade front sight, sling bar with ring, correct magazine tube. Original 6-groove rifling; no post-Civil War modifications. Fair to good. Pewter gray patina, scattered age discoloration, oxidation and pinpricking. Light pitting at breech and on receiver. Mechanically functional. Fair bore with moderate pitting. Missing sling swivel from toe of stock. Wood fair, slivers missing from fore-end; usual cracks in buttstock; butt sanded, with buttplate proud of stock. $1,000 - $2,000
180 Model 1816 N. Starr Musket with H&P Conversion .69 caliber, 42” round barrel. Bright finish, walnut stock. Starr contract lock markings, with not fully legible 1830s date at tail. Breech marked 1862 for date of the Hewes & Phillips alteration; bolster without clean-out screw and marked H&P. This is the “Type 2” H&P alteration, often referred to by collectors as the “sighted smoothbore.” Retains original 1861 pattern 3-leaf rear sight, original sling swivels and original ramrod. Has a small inspection mark in the wood, forward of the trigger guard that is considered the “windmill” or “Maltese Cross” mark of Confederate arms inspector, Nathan D. Cross. Possibly a Confederate arsenal reworked musket. Includes original M-1816 bayonet with prow-point tip. Very good. Metal mostly smooth with pewter patina and some light age discoloration. Mechanically excellent with fine, bright, smooth bore. Stock solid with some wear, bumps and dings. Bayonet about good. $1,000 - $1,500
181 Model 1816 Harpers Ferry Musket with Belgian-Style Conversion Rifled and Sighted .69 caliber, 42” round barrel, assembly #4 throughout. Harpers Ferry marked lock with correctly inspected Harpers Ferry barrel and stock, matching 1835 dates on lock and breech plug tang. Arsenal altered to percussion by the Belgian or “cone in barrel” method and subsequently arsenal rifled and sighted. Correct pattern long range rear sight and arsenal added iron front sight present. Correctly modified original ramrod with cupped head for elongated ball ammunition. Original M-1816 socket bayonet included. Some 20,980 previously altered flintlock percussion muskets were upgraded by rifling and sighting at US arsenals between 1856 and 1859, of which 12,760 were upgraded at Harpers Ferry. These guns were found to be unable to sustain the increased pressure created by the use of elongated ball ammunition and after some catastrophic failures the program was abandoned. Surviving examples like this that are 100% complete and correct are very scarce and would be an important addition for any advanced US military long arms collection. Very good. Metal with a mostly smooth pewter patina, with scattered surface oxidation, age discoloration and pinpricking. Markings remain strong and legible, mechanically fine with a very good bore, rifled with three narrow grooves. Correct and original modifications throughout, stock good to very good with expected wear from service and use. Bayonet about good and fits the musket well. $1,000 - $1,500 72
HISTORIC FIREARMS AND EARLY MILITARIA
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