December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
An American-built field carriage of the late Gribeauval System fabricated at the U.S. Washington Arsenal in 1828, as stamped on its right trunnion plate: “No. 18 / U.S. Arsenal / Washington / 1828.” Surviving examples of American field gun carriages, prior to the familiar “stock trail” carriages of 1836-1865, are almost unknown. Engineering drawings of them have never been found and the few known survivors are usually missing their original axles and none have original wheels. The specimen offered here is unique. It has 100% original wood, although quite fragile in the lunette area. The wheels are not original, but are typical Civil War No. 1 wheels in excellent condition, believed to have been acquired from Bannerman inventory, about 1900. The wheels fit the original 1828 axle, with .100” of clearance. The metal hardware of surviving Washington Arsenal carriages is distinctly different from that of surviving Watervliet carriages in the same time period and conforms to French Gribeauval specifications in most respects. Although a key feature of French Gribeauval field gun carriages was use of solid wrought iron axles without a wood cover, the few surviving American carriages of the post-1800 period suggest an American preference for wood axles with light iron axle trees, with only a small number of carriages having all iron axles. In all cases the linch pins are rectangular in cross section; carriage #18 retains both original linch pins. An interesting variation in the 1828-32 dated survivors is the use of long trail handles, as on this carriage, which facilitated the maneuver of attaching the gun carriage to its limber by its crew. The elevation screw bar is an early replacement, modified from a Civil War screw, when the carriage was adapted to mount a bronze tube of 1845 date, probably by Bannerman. The elevation screw box is original to 1828 as are the fittings for it, but the original wood indicates that the elevation system was moved about 2” to the rear, to accommodate an 1840’s 6 pdr. bronze tube. The other known surviving carriages all mount iron 6 pdr. tubes which are attached to their elevating screws by an iron yoke which bolts through the knob of the gun tube. Washington Arsenal carriage No.18 is the most complete and original and earliest-dated American field gun carriage known to this cataloger. PROVENANCE: Donated from a New England state arsenal to a museum in the late 19th century; it was deaccessioned for not fitting the institution’s mission and scope of collecting statement and sold in 2023. CONDITION: At the present time, only three other Washington Arsenal carriages in this period are known with dates from 1830-32 and all have total replacement wood. The wood in No.18 offered here is intact and all hardware is in good condition, with old heavy paint. Recent removal of the paint on the front trunnion plate surfaces revealed the markings, which have been freshly painted and the lettering highlighted in white. The axle tree on No.18 has a very old break and an apparent old repair with a large and unusual bolt and washer located between the cheeks . A recent documentation of its condition included an x-ray of the axle to determine its condition and internal details and can be provided. Matt Switlik.
Note: Matt Switlik is a retired museum director and author of “The Complete Cannoneer” and a recognized authority on American artillery. I acquired this carriage when Matt was already in the final stages of a long-term research project on U.S. Army field carriages of the 1816-1840 period—soon to be published—which will include detailed information on this carriage. We are grateful for his insights and generosity in sharing his knowledge. JLK
This is not a standard shippable item and will require 3rd party shipping or pickup arrangements to be made.Item Dimensions: 108 x 84 x 60"