GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
EXCEPTIONAL CIVIL WAR SMITH CARBINE.Poultney & TrimbleCarbine240950Cal 50. 21-5/8″ bbl. About 30,000 of these well made carbines were made for the Civil War, this is a very fine example retaining most of its orig finish that conforms to the standard configuration of this arm with part oct bbl. This gun is properly iron mounted, case colored & blued. On the left side of breech is marked “ADDRESS/POULTNEY&TRIMBLE/BALTIMORE, U.S.A.” and “SMITH’S PATENT/JUNE 23 1857″, and also the 3-line markings on the contractor, “MANUFACTURED BY/AM’N M’CH’N WKS/SPRINGFIELD MASS”. Military sales of the Smith were handled by Poultney and Trimble of Baltimore, and units known to have received the Smith were the 3rd West Virginia Cavalry, the 7th and 11th Illinois Cavalry, the 1st Connecticut Cavalry, the 7th and 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry, the 6th and 9th Ohio Cavalry, and the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry. The action of the Smith Carbine breaks open in such a way that the chamber is broken between the front and rear of its dimensions. This was incorporated in the design of the weapon to facilitate quick removal of spent rounds. PROVENANCE: The William Smith Collection. CONDITION: Overall very fine to excellent condition, retaining 95% orig blue turned mostly plum on bbl with fine bore and crisp rifling. Case colored frame & hammer exhibit over 90% bright case colors with remainder silver/brown. Trigger guard, breech band & buttstock ferrule retain over 80% orig blue. Stocks are fine overall, with some raised grain, no inspector cartouche though sub-inspectors initials “HJ” on stock. A large letter “B” is found externally stamped on bbl& buttstock. Mechanically gun functions well with crisp shiny bore which appears unfired. 49953-16 FTL (4,000-6,000)