GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
FINE CONFEDERATE BILHARZ MUZZLE LOADING CARBINE. BILHARZ CARBINE 182 58 This gun is a copy of the US Model 1855 rifle/carbine. These carbines typically come with pewter nosecaps, and sometimes early SN with brass nosecaps, such as this one. Gun is serial numbered internally "182" with matching roman numeral assembly marks. These guns were made at Pennsylvania Court House, Virginia in small quantities. These guns typically saw very hard use with no discernible markings and poor stocks. This example has seen use, but does have discernible "CSA / P" stamped on breech and even retains traces of brown finish on bbl under dark iron patina. Long mistakenly referred to as D. C. Hodgkins carbines and so listed in the early texts. Murphy & Madaus in their definitive 2002 text Confederate Carbines and Musketoons, dedicate a chapter which is copied in provenance. PROVENANCE: The Confederate and Civil War estate collection of Fred Donaldson. CONDITION: Good to very good overall. Bbl is dark brown/plum with areas of scattered pitting. "CSA" surcharge is stamped on top of bbl breech and is discernible though pitted, but "P" on left side of breech is crisp and well struck. Rifling in bore is very good, though pitted. Lock, buttplate, and trigger guard have matching iron patina. Stock is sound and solid with hand worn patina with scattered cosmetic blemishes with chipping just rear of nose cap and does not affect overall aesthetics, hand worn patina. Loading assembly has been added, otherwise gun is original. Mechanically functional with clean well discerned bore. 52430-25 JS (8,000-12,000)