GUN FALL 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/4/2016
RARE CONFEDERATE KEEN-WALKER CARBINE. KEEN-WALKER CARBINE XXVI 54 Cal. 54. This is an "as found" example of a rare Confederate carbine. The Keen, Walker & Co. carbine long known as the Confederate 'Perry' or 'Tilting Breech' carbine was the subject of much speculation as to where it was manufactured in early texts, scholarly research identifies it definitively as the product of Keen, Walker & Co. in Danville, Virginia. John Murphy & Howard Madaus in their comprehensive 2002 text Confederate Carbines & Musketoons devote a chapter on this manufacturer. They note a receipt for 101 breech loading carbines delivered May 19, 1862 to the Confederate Ordnance Department. The frame is of brass and unmarked except for Roman numeral "XXVI" internally on both the iron & brass frame tangs, & upper channel of the buttstock. The 22-1/2" bbl is rifled and unmarked. This example just recently found that appears in near "barn", untouched condition. Accompanying letter from consignor states his uncle kept it in the barn and used it to scare crows out of his garden. Gun is passed down in family from maternal grandfather who was a Union solider. CONDITION: Good overall, though iron is heavily pitted, brass frame has pleasing dark mustard colored patina. Gun is totally orig with exception of several restored screws. Stock is sound and solid with minor cosmetic blemishes and a rich red color. The action is crisp with good tight seal from breech to bbl; most examples encountered saw hard use with loose actions & poor seals. Bore exhibits well-defined rifling though heavily pitted. 50986-1 JS (10,000-15,000)