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Excellent Smith's Patent Breech Loading Civil War Carbine

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:1,400.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 5,500.00 USD
Excellent Smith's Patent Breech Loading Civil War Carbine
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Estimate: $3500 - 5500
The Smith Carbine was manufactured by the American Machine Works of Springfield, Massachusetts and was one of the most important Federal Cavalry carbines. Designed by Gilbert Smith, the production of this breech loading percussion carbine was almost entirely consumed by government contracts, with limited numbers going to the civilian market. A total of 30,362 Smith Carbines were purchased by the United States during the Civil War. Smith Carbines were considered to be accurate and reliable weapons. Standard three sets of markings on the left side of the frame "MANUFACTURED BY / AM'N M'CH'N. WKS / SPRINGFIELD MASS" (faint), agents' names "ADDRESS / POULTNEY & TRIMBLE / BALTIMORE U.S.A." and "SMITH'S PATENT / JUNE 23, 1857". The left side of the barrel has a U.S. Government inspector's initials of "LFR", a "R" at the rear of the lower tang. Dovetail brass blade front sight and folding leaf rear sight correctly absent of yard markings. Breech loading action with barrel release latch inside the trigger guard, freeing the barrel to pivot downward. Casehardened hammer and action with a saddle ring and bar mounted on the left side of the frame with a smooth forearm and straight grip walnut stock with a steel buttplate, with a boxed script "LFR" and oval script "JH" cartouche on the left side of the stock wrist and a small "HDH" on top of the stock ahead of the buttplate tang.
BBL: 21 5/8 inch part-octagon
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 50
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips:
Serial Number: 7908
Condition: Excellent. The barrel retains 97% of the original blue finish with some minor wear and thinning on the muzzle end, and some minor spotting. The trigger guard and lower tang retain 85% original blue finish with a few scratches on the guard and some minor spotting on the tang. The barrel band retains 40% original blue. The barrel latch retains almost all of the original bright blue finish with overall minor spotting. The hammer has a smooth brown patina and the buttplate has a smooth dark brown patina. The receiver retains 90% plus original case colors with areas of smooth brown patina. The wood is excellent with a few overall scattered minor dents, dings and scratches, with very crisp and clear cartouches. Mechanically excellent.