GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
EXTREMELY FINE CIVIL WAR SMITH CARBINE WITH A NAVY INSPECTOR'S CARTOUCHE. POULTNEY & TRIMBLE SMITH CARBINE 3003 50 Cal 50. 21-5/8" bbl. About 30,000 of these well made carbines were made for the Civil War. Most of this purchase was for US government contract. I am not familiar with an example inspected by a naval inspector and the inspector on the bbl is also unknown to me. I am unaware of any naval purchases or mention of such in any reference I am aware. 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. CONDITION: Overall very fine to excellent condition, retaining 95%+ orig blue, thinning in areas. Case colored frame and hammer exhibit about half muted case colors with remainder dark silver/grey. Trigger guard, breech band and buttstock ferrule retain over 40% orig blue. Stocks are fine overall, with some raised grain, inspector cartouche "JJC" (Cdr. John J. Cornwell, USN). Bbl has inspector "LTR" who is unknown to me and possibly another navy inspector? Mechanically gun functions well with crisp clean bore with well discerned rifling. 50458-7 JS (4,000-5,000)