June 25-28, 2018 Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/26/2018
Only between 5,800 and 6,700 of these carbines were manufactured. They were generally disliked and eventually discontinued. Because they were smoothbore, they had limited accuracy, and because of the large caliber, they had heavy recoil. The sights were also not very sophisticated, making them poor cavalry carbines. Round smoothbore steel barrel with breech marked "V/P/eagles head". Flat lockplate stamped in center with an eagle and "US" and tail stamped vertically "SPRING/FIELD/1848". Standard brass Model 1847 furniture with a steel saddle ring bar with ring mounted on left side between the rear barrel band and rear lock retaining screw. Buttplate tang stamped "US". Features a swiveling steel ramrod and plain walnut stock stamped with a partially legible inspector's cartouche. Good condition, overall. Barrel retains a medium grey patina with scattered freckling, a bit heavier at breech, markings at breech probably enhanced. Lock retains a dark grey patina with some light freckling, very good markings, crisp mechanism. Brass retains a mellow patina with some scattered marks from use. Stock has a professionally repaired wrist crack, which is very hard to see, otherwise very good with some scattered marks and light edge wear. A very nice and scarce pre-Civil War cavalry carbine!
Caliber/Bore
.69 Smoothbore