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Exceptional Palmer Civil War Bolt Action Carbine

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:2,750.00 USD Estimated At:5,500.00 - 7,000.00 USD
Exceptional Palmer Civil War Bolt Action Carbine
The Palmer carbine, manufactured by E.G. Lamson & Co., of Windsor, Vermont, is significant as the first metallic cartridge, bolt-action weapon accepted by the Ordnance Department for issue to the U.S. Army. The Ordnance Department contracted the 1001 Palmer carbines late in the Civil War; the carbines were delivered in June 1865, after the fighting ceased, thus were un-issued. The Palmer carbine featured a short handle at the rear of the receiver; a quarter turn of the bolt handle unlocks the bolt and pulling it to the rear extracts the fired case and opens the chamber. The hammer is cocked manually before opening. The barrel has a folding, single leaf rear sight. The sight has three apertures and is graduated to 500 yards. A sling bar and ring are attached to the left stock flat. The 20-inch .50 caliber round barrel is blue. The bolt is bright and the bolt handle, hammer, lock plate, barrel band, trigger guard, butt plate and sling bar are casehardened. The stock is oil finished walnut. The lock plate is marked: "U.S. / E.G. LAMSON & CO / WINDSOR VT." in front of the hammer and dated "1865" behind it. The top of the receiver has the three line marking: "Wm PALMER / PATENT / DEC. 22, 1863". A small "BFS" is stamped on the left rear side of the barrel next to the rear sight. There are no other inspection marks on the carbine, making this piece one of very few, rarely encountered non-inspected carbines.
BBL: 20 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 50 RF
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips:
Serial Number: NSN


Excellent plus, appears unissued. The barrel retains 99% of the original blue finish. The trigger guard plate, saddle ring and bar have aged to a smooth gray with most of the original casehardening pattern and some dull colors remaining, and the top of the barrel band is slightly fading, otherwise the casehardened parts retain virtually all of the original bright case colors. With the exception of a couple of flaws in the buttstock, the wood is excellent with a few overall scattered minor dings and dents. The edges of the flats are sharp. An exceptional Palmer carbine that would be impossible to improve on.