April 11-13, 2023 Firearms and Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/11/2023
One of the rarest Confederate carbines and what would surely be a crown jewel to any Confederate or Civil War collection, with only about 500 ever manufactured. These carbines were made in Tallassee, Alabama from June 1864 to April 1865. The Richmond carbine factory was relocated to Tallassee after Richmond became under increasing threat to keep the ability to manufacture cavalry carbines relatively free from enemy attack. These carbines were intended to become the official carbine of the CSA, however, after its small period of production, the machinery as well as the carbines disappeared, believed to have been destroyed by Union raiders. An interesting anecdote on the carbine's fate is that the barrels were used as reinforcement in the concrete foundations when the armory was repaired and expanded after the war. Only a few survived, with examples known in collections such as the Smithsonian, Virginia Historical Society, Columbus Museum of Art, Greensboro Historical Museum, Atlanta History Center, Confederate Memorial Park in Marlboro, Alabama, and the Fuller Gun Collection on display at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. This example is to date the only known Tallassee carbine to be offered at auction, only being offered one time before by James D. Julia in Fall of 2012 as lot 2080. Other than these examples, there was another known carbine that privately sold to a museum for over $100,000. 25" barrel in .58 caliber with small iron block blade front sight and M1858 style rear sight. Original ramrod with added swivel stirrup and tip. Brass mountings including nosecap, both barrel bands, trigger guard, and buttplate, all with hints of reddish tint, indicative of high copper content and Confederate manufacture. 1-piece walnut stock and forearm with added brass lock screw escutcheons. Reproduction Confederate canvas and leather sling mounted to added front and rear swivels. Front swivel is iron and rear is brass. Matching serial numbers observed on breechplug, barrel, and inside of stock channel with barrel removed. Complete with lock dated 1864 behind hammer and marked "CS / Tallassee / Ala" forward of hammer. Accompanying this carbine is a Statement of Provenance dated 10/04/2022 in which Damon Mills states the authenticity and provenance of the lock. The measurements are consistent with page 203 of "Confederate Carbines & Musketoons" by Murphy. In addition to this Tallassee lock, the Enfield lock from when this carbine was originally sold by James D. Julia in 2012 is also included. CONDITION: Fair, with barrel turned a heavy brown patina consistent with age. Stock is in matching condition with left flat of stock heavily marked where modern initials were put in and removed at a later time, a large sliver of wood missing behind lock, small crack in lock mortise near tumbler inlet, and cracks on both side of trigger guard. Stock has retained its shape overall and is stable. Mechanically fine. Bore is dark with visible 3 wide grooves of rifling. A chance to own a documented, original Tallassee carbine with minor repairs to rehabilitate it and preserve it.