3181

Excellent Smith's Patent Breech Loading Civil War Carbine

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:3,750.00 - 5,500.00 USD
Excellent Smith's Patent Breech Loading Civil War Carbine
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. Dovetail blade front sight and folding leaf rear sight absent of yard markings. Breech loading action with barrel release latch inside the trigger guard, freeing the barrel to pivot downward. Standard markings on the left side of the frame, "MANUFACTURED BY / AM'N M'CH'N. WKS / SPRINGFIELD MASS", agents' names "ADDRESS / POULTNEY & TRIMBLE / BALTIMORE U.S.A." and "SMITH'S PATENT / JUNE 23, 1857". 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. The left side of the barrel has a U.S. Government inspector's initials of "LFR" with a boxed "LFR" and oval script "JH" cartouche on the left side of the stock wrist behind the sling bar.
BBL: 21 5/8 inch part octagon
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 50
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips:
Serial Number: 10518


Excellent. The barrel retains 90% plus original smooth plum blue finish. The latch bar on top of the barrel retains most of the original bright fire blue finish and the trigger guard retains 95% bright original finish with a coat of surface rust overall. The buttplate has a smooth brown patina with some minor pitting on the heel. The receiver retains 95% of the original vivid case colors while the hammer has retained most of the dulling case colors. The wood is excellent with a few overall minor dings, nicks and scratches. The markings under the ring bar are fading, otherwise the remaining marks are clear and crisp. Mechanically excellent.