July 30th 2016 Premier Firearms Sale (20)
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/30/2016
20" barrel in .56-50 Spencer caliber. This is a variant Warner carbine by Greene Rifle Works of Worcester, Massachusetts. 2,500 of these carbines were delivered between February and March of 1865. Features the all brass frame, round barrel, single band, military style folding rear sight, blade front sight, single shot, with walnut stocks. This is an unusual rifle in that it subsequently ended up in Great Britain, the barrel having numerous British proof marks. At such time, the frame was beautifully hand engraved and nickel finished and the wrist and forend were hand checkered. According to Flayderman, a New York dealer bought most of the surplus Warner carbines and resold them to France for use in the Franco-Prussian War. It is highly probable that this dealer upgraded this carbine for sale to a client in England. The barrel is a brown-grey patina mix, as is barrel band. The beautifully engraved frame, trigger guard, block and tangs retain approximately 90% of the period nickel plating with flashes of the brass frame showing through. The checkered walnut stocks are in excellent condition, proud to metal. Buttplate retains approximately 50% of this nickel finish with brass showing through. Strong rifled bore with usual black powder abrasion. It is interesting to note that the 2,500 Greene-Warner carbines were all delivered to the Ordnance department in February and March of 1865 and were too late to have seen any use in the war, which is how they ended up being sold as surplus and this carbine being upgraded and sold to an English client. This is obviously a one of a kind Warner carbine.