June 25-28, 2018 Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/26/2018
According to Flayderman, well under 2,000 of these muskets were made between 1862 and 1863. These were second-class arms of lesser quality and Whitney used the name "Manton", to associate them with this well-known English gunmaker, who made high quality guns. A letter was discovered by Whitney that he would give them a patina of quality using the "Manton" association and marketing them as "near" Springfields. The rifle musket has a round steel barrel with three-groove rifling and rear three-leaf sight, breech marked "G.W.Q." on left side and on top, "G/9". Lockplate marked "Manton" in Old English Gothic letters, tail dated "1862". Standard steel Model 1861 furniture, buttplate stamped "US", otherwise unmarked. Unmarked plain walnut stock and steel bayonet. All steel components cleaned bright, markings very good. Some light freckling and scattered marks from use. Action functions well and is crisp, bore shows some freckling but grooves still quite strong. Stock shows some edge wear and a few minor age cracks and light marks. A great opportunity to own a very scarce and desirable Civil War musket with an interesting history!