NewFirearms

SCARCE, Spectacular POTTS & HUNT of London Enfield Rifle, CS Imported & Arsenal-Altered for Cavalry Service

Potts & Hunt-made Enfields are among the RAREST and MOST COLLECTABLE--and THE most premier Confederate supplier of Enfields--as documented in William B. Edwards' book "Civil War Guns" & Elsewhere...though FEW remain TODAY!

Cut-Down to 45" Long "Musketoon", Bearing ALL the Archetypical CS Arsenal Alteration Traits (Reference Murphy & Madaus "Confederate Rifles & Muskets" & "Confederate Carbines & Musketoons", as well as "Firearms From Europe" books)

Excellent Hand-Carved "Stars & Bars" Motif Cross-Hatching Into the Foregrip and Wrist Areas

This SUPERB, and archetypical Confederate cut-down for Cavalry service Enfield rifle REALLY SPEAKS to us from over 145 years ago! Coming straight from a Texas Confederate family decades ago, it had been in the private collection of Mr. Richard Gersten, then I sold it to a dear friend in Tennessee, who is now selling his entire collection! It is a classic alteration, being cut-down from the 3-bander rifle to a 2-bander, down to a 29" barrel, and 45" overall total length. As is SO WELL DOCUMENTED, the lamentations of the Confederate mounted forces--bemoaned by General's Forrest, J. E. B. Stuart, and Robert E. Lee, himself--forced the Confederacy to "adapt and overcome", utilizing whatever weapons they could to arm their troopers. Since there were so few existing true cavalry "carbines" in the South when the war broke-out, coupled with the extremely low production output by Southern workshops AND the blockade, longarms of every kind and type were utilized. What became the MOST sought-after were Enfields (reference "Firearms from Europe" to read EVERYTHING you'd ever want to know about CS cavalry weapon problems, and the popularity of them utilizing Enfield rifles and carbines). In fact, General Forrest continually DEMANDED new shipments of Enfields for his troopers, as they fit his style of fighting (utilizing his cavalry as mobile infantry). And YES, I HAVE COPIES of "Firearms from Europe" Civil War reference book--AUTHOR-SIGNED--FOR SALE!!! Only $40 !!!

And this ain't your typical "Enfield" by any stretch, either! It's among the RAREST and MOST COLLECTABLE--and most premier Confederate supplier-- POTTS & HUNT of London imported specimen! The "POTTS & HUNT" of "LONDON" is seen CRISPLY upon the lockplate. As documented in William B. Edwards' book "Civil War Guns", Potts and Hunt was indeed one of the most premier supplier of Confederate-imported Enfield rifles, though very few remain in existence today. The barrel and muzzle, coupled with the bolster wear and brass-tacked reinforcement plate are 100% PERIOD PROOF that this was a COMBAT-USED WEAPON. Sadly, there is no identification or provenance--excepting the "JH" faint carving into the stock-- other than being used by a Texas trooper, coming directly from their family years ago. But its "combat veteran" status is without doubt. Neither is its Confederate utilization, as it is a "textbook" example of Confederate alteration. Just look within your Murphy & Madaus books, and you'll see all the same characteristics: replacement ramrod, being a tulip-nosed style (almost like a Hall rifle) and full-length, the nose cap being re-attached right at muzzle (again, much like the Hall conversions), the buttstock being narrowed for allowing the trooper better sighting, and the trooper utilized a period civilian iron buckle with leather tacked into the underside of the buttstock to be used as a sling swivel. I was not allowed by the consignor then to take the barrel off (again, the period brass-tacked repair, and the nose-cap being tacked into the muzzle of the stock), but I would be willing to bet that there are CS Arsenal Roman Numbers, encryptic "dots", and/or other CS Arsenal tell-tale documented demarcations. Yet again, the current consignor does not want to risk any potential damage to the 150 year old or less arsenal/field repair work/alteration. THAT will be left up to the FUTURE owner....for if they are present...the value of this piece would jump up CONSIDERABLY!!! But what IS SUPER COOL that we see on the outside is that the trooper HAND-CARVED the "Stars and Bars" motif on the foregrip area! He also got rather "fanciful" cross-hatching" a nice pattern around the wrist, as well.

It doesn't get more SOUTHERN than "corn-pone and molasses," as old William Albaugh used to say! And if you buy it--take it apart to find those "magical" CS Arsenal markings....well...YOU'VE HIT THE JACKPOT! Regardless....SHE IS...WHAT SHE IS! And whistles "Yellow Rose of Texas" besides "Dixie"!! (LOL! Albaugh is probably laughing "up thar" right now!)

Gorgeous Mid-1800's, .48 caliber Single Shot English Pistol made by the FAMOUS Gunmakers "Lewis & Tomes"

100% Original, 100% Complete (Including original percussion caps inside the bottom cap-holder!), 100% Fully-Functional, and 100% BEAUTIFUL!

Ohhhh yeahhhhh! This is "old school" British quality at its FINEST! Complete with ALL the expected British finery of that era of gunsmithing....silver inlays all over...silver butt-cap designed to hold the percussion caps (which it is STILL STUFFED with the original percussion caps!)....the FINE etching, scrollwork, engraving....floral motifs....the classic "serpent's head" hammer....CRISP markings ("Lewis & Tomes" on the lockplate, and "London Fine Wire Twist" upon the spine of the octagonal barrel). Measuring at a total length of 10.25" inches long, this .48 caliber smoothbore single-shot pistol is the epitome of the English quality of craftsmanship in their gunmaking of the era. It is 100% COMPLETE...100% ORIGINAL...100% FULLY-FUNCTIONAL. NO REPAIRS....NO REPLACEMENT PARTS....NO DAMAGE...NOTHING worth mentioning that it a true detraction to this piece---only a few mere dings or bumps or scratches--again, nothing worth noting, especially given it is well over 150 years old! It's SO NICE to have pieces like these, for the PICTURES do ALL THE TALKING FOR ME! What you see is WHAT YOU GET!

This was a weapon, born of the "age of gentlemen," of "chivalry", and "class"....and it exemplifies it all in SPADES.

This is for you "old-school", "Gentile-class" collectors out there! Truly worthy of PROMINENT DISPLAY in your OFFICE, "WAR ROOM", MANTLE....you name it! Even MY WIFE LOVES IT!

I have always LOVED ALL of the Ethan Allen/Allen & Wheelock/Thurber made weapons. I laugh as I watch my wife and other women shopping (and spending A LOT of MONEY) with "Ethan Allen" of today--and they haven't a CLUE that they made their RICHES in weapon's production in the 1800's! It wasn't until well after the turn-of-the 20th Century that Ethan Allen expanded in becoming a "retail" store! Though most noted for their truly REVOLUTIONARY "pepperbox" revolvers (the predecessor to the true modern "revolver"), they also made a plethora of single-shot pistols, and THEN dabbled into trying to answer the market's CRY for MORE FIREPOWER!!!! That's where this BEAUTY was designed and produced! It's a classic double-hammer and double-barrel, RIFLED .34 caliber pistol, being 7.5" long in total length, utilizing ONLY ONE trigger! You pull the trigger once to fire the first barrel, then pull the trigger harder and further back to fire the second barrel. As noted in Flayderman's Guide to American Antique Firearms, these were only made in the 1850's, and somewhere between only 500 to 1,000 were EVER MADE. So, too, does the phenomenal reference guide book authored by Mr. Paul Henry "Ethan Allen AND Allen & Wheelock" documents their production as being "well under 1,000 produced" according to surviving records...SO THIS GORGEOUS BABY is a RARE ONE, INDEED! And besides all that---she is absolutely, 100% COMPLETE, 100% ORIGINAL, 100% FULLY-FUNCTIONAL, having NO DAMAGE, NO REPAIRS, lots of original faded case-coloring, and VIVIDLY CLEAR and CRISP maker markings of "ALLEN & THURBER WORCESTER". Even the original wooden ramrod with brass tip is 100% intact and spectacular!!! It is truly in what would be graded--in my estimation--as "FINE" condition...to which Flayderman's latest guide places it's RARE VALUE at $900!!! It's twin rifled barrels (just over 4" long) are CRISP, and even both nipples as BEAUTIFUL and READY TO FIRE as the DAY IT WAS MADE!

But you NEVER have to OVER-PAY here at Champion Hill Relics to GET THE BEST and the RAREST!! And YES...look in your "Faces of the Confederacy" multiple books of original CS images, and you'll see a plethora of Johnnies with all sorts of Allen & Thurber's--including two pics with THIS DOUBLE BARREL MODEL--in their hand (in one picture) and his belt (in another)!

A Cut-Down "Common Rifle" (the Moniker of the M1817) by a Confederate Arsenal/Workshop for Cavalry Use

Per the Seminal CS Weapons Reference Books by Dr. Murphy & Madaus, the Combination of both the CS Roman Numbering (as common throughout all CS arsenal/workshop demarcations) AND the "enigmatic" markings of "dots" is MOST INDICATIVE of the Work of M. A. Baker of North Carolina, and their books shows SPECIFIC examples of these RARE/OLD Model 1817 "Common Rifles" Altered by Baker with these demarcations--BUT, there is also evidence of other NC shops, and even Adams of Richmond using the Roman Numbers AND "dots"

Coming from Dr. Reeves Collection--"As Seen on TV!" just 2 weeks ago on the "Antiques Roadshow" (Tulsa, 2011)

Dr. Reeves can Provide the Future Owner with a FULL WRITTEN & NOTARIZED Letter of Authenticity, given his renown Status as Collector, Appraiser, and Historian

All of my FAITHFUL, long-time followers of Champion Hill Relics KNOW that I have an utter FASCINATION with cut-down Cavalry-used CS weapons! Dug or non-dug! And YES, I said it before, and say it again...WHEN I GET THE TIME, I am going to WRITE a PUBLICATION regarding the PLETHORA of dug and non-dug specimens I and others have come across, documented, and of course giving deference to those authors and experts before me who have TOUCHED upon this area....but a FULL ACCOUNT NEEDS to be WRITTEN!!! I am the man to do it! But to do it right, it takes TIME. You know the problems our family has had to face--and to some degrees, still face--with our son's battle and victory over cancer. The time WILL COME [now I UNDERSTAND why the authors of the up-coming NEW European Firearms reference book face and why it's publication keeps getting delayed, because I--like they--keep COMING ACROSS MORE NEW INFO AND SPECIMENS!]

This UTTERLY RARE Confederate Arsenal/Workshop marked cut-down for cavalry use, US Model 1817 "Common Rifle"--being the FIRST (with Hall Rifles, too) RIFLED US Military Weapons EVER--is not only rare to BE a US Model 1817 "Common Rifle"...but those that are true CS Arsenal/Workshop altered specimens are OUT OF THIS WORLD! All of the original Rifle is present, excepting for the fact it has been cut-down (I know...DUH, JOHN!), the brass/copper front sight aperture being added by the arsenal/workshop, the ramrod being LIKE the M1817's, but a crude replacement version. The rear sight aperture is an original replacement of a different style than most M1817's, but Dr. Reeves and I believe it to be original to the CS alteration to the piece. The original nipple, brass patchbox, hammer...right down to even the rear sling swivel are ALL present! These M1817's were indeed FLINTLOCKS, and whether the alteration to percussion nipple/cone conversion was done by the CS Arsenal/workshop, or by the State's armory at the beginning of the war (there are NO US MARTIAL MARKINGS, thus this was clearly purchased by an individual state under the 1808 Militia Act Law), we are not sure. Given that it is a SIMPLE cone-in-barrel conversion--and rather crude--it bears the "archetypical" Southern traits of SIMPLICITY and CRUDENESS. Thus, we are of the belief that it is probably a "Johnny Job". The piece is still FULLY-FUNCTIONAL, with a clear nipple, rifling still visible down the entire length of the cut-down barrel--though showing the clear "battlefield veteran" usage of wear in the rifling, bolster wear, wear within the stock, etc. It is a BEAUTIFULLY-MARKED "US/N.STARR" and "1826/MIDn CONN" on the lockplate specimen, with VIVIDLY MATCHING "1826" barrel tang marking and proof marks. The once beautiful brass appointments of the backplate, oval patchbox, et, all show the patina of the LONG YEARS of it's nearly 200 years of existence, and Lord KNOWS how many battles OR WARS it went through from 1826 through the definite usage by a Confederate in the Civil War! And the COOL SURPRISE Dr. Reeve's piece here had was the clear Confederate "Battleflag" carving WITHIN the patchbox--a simple square, with double-lined "X", but no stars (too bad!) See pic below. It is the appearance of the clear "VIX", with three "..." and sub-inspector numbering on the underside of the barrel, AND upon the inner channel of the stock for the barrel, that is 100% original and consistent with those documented within the reference books of Dr. Murphy & Madaus.

When Dr. Reeves and I met for me to take receivership of the next LOAD of goodies under consignment for him, I IMMEDIATELY got "HOT" over this one! He, like all my other faithful followers, KNOW I LOVE these CS cut-down for cavalry weapons! The absolute DESPERATION by the Southern mounted forces for PROPER firearm equipage is SO WELL DOCUMENTED--within the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion, through many letters surviving today, most which are explained and documented with such PHENOMENAL REFERENCE BOOKS as "Firearms from Europe" and then the Dr. Murphy & Madaus books of "Confederate Rifles & Muskets" & "Confederate Carbines & Musketoons". From Texas to Virginia...from Forrest, to Morgan, to J. E. B. Stuart--and even ROBERT E. LEE--ALL BEMOANED the horrible lack of proper carbines/musketoons to combat against their WELL-ARMED US Federal counterparts, who had so MANY MODERN, RIFLED, BREECH-LOADING & REPEATING carbines and rifles. Of course, the "steel" of the Southern horsemen's spirit, and STRATEGIC DARING and LEADERSHIP they were under still--even admitted so by their federal counterparts, including SHERMAN who specifically wrote during the Atlanta Campaign [given the utter annihilation of his US General Stoneman's cavalry raid against CS General Wheeler's cavalry, and Forrest's corresponding destruction of Sturgis at Brice's Crossroads and further havoc upon Sherman's supply lines far-reaching into his armies in northern Georgia] that, "The Southern branch of mounted forces is one that, through their evidenced display of dash and spirit....is one that will have to be utterly destroyed....if it costs 10,000 men or bankrupts the Treasury...".

By the tremendous research into the existing documentation, and specific specimens found and used within Dr. Murphy & Madaus' reference books, the usage of BOTH the CS Roman Numbering AND the "enigmatic" punched "dots", is DOCUMENTED heavily with M. A. Baker of North Carolina, who was under contract (at times) with the Fayetteville Armory. So, too, were a couple other small workshops in the vicinity. But (as shown below) the few existing M. A. Baker weapons bearing their alterations and markings are found on mostly upon US MODEL 1817 "COMMON RIFLES"!!!! But...and there's ALWAYS a "but", isn't there...ADAMS of Richmond ALSO used the Roman Numbering and "dot" system, INCLUDING upon an existing/surviving specimen that is ALSO a M1817 "Common Rifle"!!! However, as Dr. Murphy & Madaus write CLEARLY (again, see below), this combo of Roman numbering and "dots" appears to be almost exclusive to M. A. Baker....and certainly if not them, then the other noted smaller NORTH CAROLINA contractors working for the State/Armory (Fayetteville).

As I, and all the other WISE collectors, dealers, and historians note..."the real experts are LONG DEAD." But we DO KNOW FOR A FACT, that this specimen here is ONE RARE--historic and rare enough for starters as the first RIFLED US MILITARY LONGARM nearly 200 years ago--and a 100% CONFEDERATE ALTERED and thusly MARKED specimen. You DON'T have to GUESS or WONDER if this was a CONFEDERATE-USED weapon! And the price? BETTER than those you buy on "hopes" and "oral history"!!!

"The Good Doctor" can provide the future owner with a full and complete LETTER OF AUTHENTICITY, based upon his being an appraiser, 30+ year antique firearm collector, AND SHALL BE NOTARIZED, if the future owner so chooses to have it.

VIVID JS/Anchor-Marked Specimen, Matching Patent/Serial Numbered 9012, CRISP MARKINGS

She is truly a MOST GORGEOUS and "iconic" Confederate sidearm in the entire collecting world, being THE original BRITISH and CONFEDERATE-IMPORTED and ISSUED, KERR .44 cal. Revolver. The matching serial/patent number 9012 is upon the cylinder and frame, and the crisp London and British proofs ABOUND EVERYWHERE, as does the "KERR'S PATENT" and the London Armoury marking, as well as the "L.A.C." (London Armoury Company) stamping on the side of the barrel, with the British/London proofs there as well. FULLY-FUNCTIONAL and COMPLETE. It bears the now KNOWN marking of that of John Southgate of the London Armoury (their Chief Arms Proof/Inspector) that was then employed by the Confederacy in 1861 for Caleb Huse, and used his "JS/Anchor" stamping. It was Caleb Huse who acquired the FULL LONDON ARMOURY CONTRACT in April, 1861, that ALL KERR REVOLVER PRODUCTION would be EXCLUSIVELY for the CONFEDERACY ALONE. This .44 caliber (54 Bore in English gauging) beauty is 100% complete, BEAUTIFUL, and FULLY-FUNCTIONAL in EVERY way. Just look at the pics and see for yourself! And NO...EVERY SINGLE ORIGINAL NIPPLE is CRISP and un-batted. It is FREE from ANY active oxidation. It actually has some decent amount of faded original bluing to the weapon, especially the "LONDON ARMOURY" lockplate, which has that CLASSIC British opaque skin bluing--just SWEET! The really "cool" facet and "surprise" to this piece is that--and I didn't even see notice it until I was taking pictures of it--is that there is some kind of "spacer" ring in front of the cylinder on the cylinder pin/shaft. It appears to be iron (it matches the patina of the rest of the weapon) and it is my belief that it is a period addition (again, patina matches). I think this "spacer" was added because of use/wear, or poor craftsmanship by the London Armoury--that either the "teeth" on the back of the cylinder that the loading hand part that comes-up to PUSH UP and AGAINST the "teeth" of the back of the cylinder to cycle/rotate it, got WORN to where it was getting "sloppy" to cycle. OR, it was the loading hand part that was wearing-down/was made just a little too short, thus not allowing it to cycle/rotate the cylinder properly and crisply. Thus, by adding the "spacer" in FRONT of the cylinder, it MADE SURE that the cylinder was as CLOSE to the loading hand part, so as to ensure it would rotate the cylinder when cocking. "Johnny Reb" was ECSTATIC to get such a FINE WEAPON, and it is so thoroughly documented (thanks to such reference books like those of Dr. Murphy & Madaus) how the "Johnnies" would get their weapons REPAIRED and BACK IN THE FIELD to kill more "yankees"!

WE KNOW FOR A FACT--thanks to the ever-famous "Pratt List", the original hand-written handgun accounting of Company H, 18th Virginia Cavalry in July of 1864 by their commander, Pratt--that the Kerr Revolvers within Company H, 18th VA Cavalry in July, 1864 were all within the 9240 to 9974 range of patent/serial numbers. THIS TELLS US that THIS SPECIMEN--patent/serial #9012, EASILY must have been an 1863 PRODUCTION piece from the London Armoury. Why??? Let us use a little logical deduction: SINCE WE KNOW that in July of 1864, that Kerr's in the 99XX range were ALREADY in the FIELD of ACTION, we look at the TIME in which it takes a weapon produced in Europe...which has to GO THROUGH INSPECTION (getting that SWEET "JS/ANCHOR" marking!!!), get LOADED into a ship....make (at best) a multi-month trek across the "Big Pond" (Atlantic)....THEN AT BEST, make a STRAIGHT SHOT into North Carolina....but they typically went to BERMUDA or CUBA, to where they were loaded into SMALLER and FASTER "Blockade-RUNNING" vessels...and THEN make the "run" through the blockade to ANY PORT they could get into, from the North Carolina coast, all the way to Texas. THEN, get UNLOADED....get SENT by wagon/train to some army/arsenal/depot collection point....THEN get sent into the FIELD...and THEN get ISSUED to a specific unit/man. You can read ALL ABOUT IT in the all-important "Firearms from Europe" Civil War reference book! It's all there! We also KNOW for FACT, thanks to the seminal collecting, studying, and then publishing of his KNOWLEDGE by Mr. Forgett--the undisputed "guru" of Kerr Revolvers-- that he wrote in his publication, "In checking my serial records for Kerr's I have either owned or observed and taken notes on, out of 66 guns in the serial number range of 1,050 to 10,164--those being the lowest and highest numbered guns with the J. S. Anchor markings I have ever seen...", we KNOW that 10, XXX is as FAR as the Kerr serial Numbered specimens that MADE IT INTO THE FIELD were. So again, if Kerr 9974 was already IN THE FIELD in July of 1864....it is in my humble (and I think irrefutable!) opinion that Kerr 9012 WAS MADE in 1863, given the amount of LOGISTICAL TIME it took for a finished Kerr at London Armoury to get ALL THE WAY from the London Armoury, into the HANDS of an awaiting cavalryman/officer, took so many months...especially towards the end of the war, as the ever-tightening "Anaconda" stranglehold of the Federal Blockade grew, and thus the ever shrinking number of "safe ports" and shipments that actually made it through to Southern shores.

All the real "experts" ain't talking anymore...for they are LONG DEAD! We can only use what DOCUMENTED FACTS, and logical conclusions inferred from them, to make any other assertions.

Thankfully...this BEAUTY did NOT see TOO MUCH FIGHTING, and probably wasn't issued into the field for service until early 1864. That's why these LATE serial/patent numbered specimens usually are SOOOO NICE!

(Appraiser, 30+ Year Collector, & Just Seen on "Antiques Roadshow" Last Week for the Tulsa, 2011 Show, w/the UNWORLDLY RARE CS-Made Savage Navy Holster & Savage Revolver that I Sold Just Recently!)

100% Original, Complete, Fully-Functional, Matching Serial #7351, LOADS of Original Case-Coloring/Bluing!!

Flayderman Specimen 5B-070, VERY SCARCE/PREMIUM Valued Model, Having FLUTED Cylinder and 4.5" LONG Barrel Variant, made in 1863

Yeah, yeah...I AM PUMPED-UP for THIS KILLER GROUPING!!! Anything from my great friend Dr. Reeves--"as seen on TV!"--gets my SOUTHERN BLOOD FLOWING! He just got this NEW, RARE, "CAJUN QUEEN" BEAUTY to me!!! It's an already EXTREMELY RARE/SCARCE model variant made by Colt (only around 2,000) of the 4.5" LONG round barrel model with the FLUTED cylinder. It was produced in early/mid-1863, and though obviously was made and used ORIGINALLY by some Yankee, Dr. Reeves only collects the KILLER stuff he gets locally around his ARK-LA-TEX region. And y'all know what happened in 1864, when US General Banks set-out to CLEAR-OUT Louisiana and Arkansas "once and for all" of "all the rebels lurking in the hinterland and swamps...". Well....General Banks already had earned a nickname against "Stonewall Jackson" in 1862 in the Shenandoah Valley as "Commissary Banks" for having essentially his entire supply train/depot captured at Port Royal! He then got quickly SHOVED into the "hinterland" of Federal command, out into the Trans-Mississippi Theater. His BOLD 1864 "Red River Campaign" idea was a good one....except he once again would be BEATEN SEVERELY by not only his incompetence, but the FEROCITY of the "hinterland" and "swamp rebels"! He once again lived-up to his moniker! The amount of supplies lost in battle and retreat was the BEST equipage the CS forces in that region EVER GOT!

Now lets talk about this RARE, BEAUTIFUL Colt "Root" revolver, .31 caliber, FLUTED cylinder and 4.5" barrel variant! Having WELL OVER the 30% MINIMUM original case-coloring/bluing (the SKIN/OPAQUE bluing!) Flayderman's Guide has for it's criteria for "FINE" condition, this one clearly BEAT S THAT! ALL of the Colt Address and matching 7351 serial numbers are CRISP and VIVID. The Patent Date/Info inside the fluting of the cylinder is--as TYPICAL when trying to impart a FLAT stamping into a ROUNDED surface--is legible, but faint (again...good luck flat-stamping on a rounded concave surface!) The grips are BEAUTIFUL, and the action is 100% CRISP and FULLY-FUNCTIONAL in EVERY WAY. Everything is present, and everything is ORIGINAL! No repairs--no "monkey-business", and NO APOLOGIES! The pictures will do ALL the talking for me! Only the most MINOR if ANY to be found AT ALL nick or bruise anywhere! And the clearly brown/russet leather CS/local-made holster ONLY made to FIT THIS 4.5" Barrel version Colt Root revolver....probably the ONLY known to exist! Simple construction, simple/small INTACT single belt loop and brass finial solidly intact.

Flayderman's Guide to American Antique Firearms puts the "FINE" price at $1850 for the revolver alone...and look at the CS/local-made "Cajun-spiced" HOLSTER with it for THIS price! Look around and see IF you can find just THIS RARE MODEL Colt Root for THIS PRICE...WITHOUT the HOLSTER!!!

Displayed in the Historical Society Museum (near Port Royal) for Years, decades ago

From My Dear Old Friend's MASSIVE Collection, the Late Mr. Joe Ginn, Jr. of Cherryville, NC

This most historic piece of the "Battle for the Valley" (as the display was called in the old historical society by Port Royal--scene of Stonewall Jackson GREAT victory, capturing almost ALL of US General Banks' supplies, earning him the nickname "Commissary Banks"!) was purchased directly from them by my dear old friend and his daddy, Mr. Joe Ginn Sr. and Jr. I sold this piece privately several years ago for Joe, and now the owner is letting this historic beauty come to market FINALLY! It is with a smile and a tear--and I literally mean this as I am writing this--that I think of old Joe...he died just over 3 years ago at the age of 41....WAY TOO SOON. We never ended a phone call or seeing each other without saying, "Love ya, brother!" And he, his daddy, and uncle, ALL curry-combed all over the eastern region, and come-up with some of the most KILLER stuff you could find...and they'd usually get it for a STEAL!

This clearly "hidden" Confederate cavalryman's Maynard Carbine--as indeed, it was found within the walls of a Confederate cavalryman veteran's home and donated to the historical society--is actually STILL FULLY-FUNCTIONAL, and has that GREAT "behind the walls" LOOK to it! It's only missing a nipple--I can screw one in there, if you want ($10). But she's still a beauty, complete with the original sling-ring, and has those "KILL NOTCHES"--all 8 of them--on the left-top of the stock! Even the two rear flip-up leaf sights are present, and you can flip them up! Heck, with the bore not bad either, if you put a nipple in there, you could still fire it!

Just a Yankee-killing Maynard carbine--with the NOTCHES to PROVE IT--that FOUGHT LIKE HELL "in the Valley"....Virginia's "bread-basket" and lifeline, that was fought over, and over, and over so many times, that the streams often did indeed "run red with blood".

You don't have to guess or wonder if this weapon ever "fired a shot in anger"....she's a Confederate Veteran of the Valley!

Sweet Johnny Reb/Texas-"Spiced", Double-Barrel .38 Cal. RIFLED Pistol, in a CS/Local-Made Russet Leather Holster

(PS: He was just AIRED on the PBS "Antiques Roadshow" with the Savage Navy in the Ultra-Rare CS-Made holster for it...so YEAH...HIS STUFF IS 'KILLER"!)

The Holster--made for a Single-Barrel Pistol--shows CLEARLY that the Texas Rebel wanted one with TWO BARRELS, and shoved it in there, and it's BEEN THAT WAY for 150 years!

From my great friend (30-year collector and appraiser), coming from his hometown of Tyler, Texas, we got a "LONE STAR" beauty combo of a pre-war double-barrel single-shot pistol, with fine checkering, engraved scrollwork, and German Silver inlay, within it's original CS/local-made russet brown leather holster. What's super-cool about it is that though the holster was made for a single-barrel pistol--Lone Star Johnny knew the time-old wisdom..."TWO is BETTER THAN ONE"...especially when it comes to FIREPOWER! The twin rifled .38 caliber barrels--being 4" long, and total pistol length of 8.25" long--are two barrels I wouldn't want stuck in MY FACE! Though one of the hammer's action is non-functional, the first one IS, and the weapon is 100% ORIGINAL, UNTOUCHED, NO DAMAGE , and NO REPAIRS. And the clear fact with the holster formed around that double-barrel pistol, which has been that way since the Texan shoved it in there 150 years ago, makes this a UNIQUE, "killer" combo piece!

Two are better than one...and none better than THIS one in the sweet holster! And she whistles "Yellow Rose of Texas!"

100% Original, Complete, Fully-Functional, PERFECTLY VIVID and CRISP Markings, as the DAY it was MADE

Other "JAS" and Sub-Inspector Proofs/Marks Under the Barrel, Lockplate, and Stock

The US Model 1842 was THE WORKHORSE for the War, Especially for Southern Soldiers Throughout the War

This is EXACTLY the weapon for the collector who only wants THE BEST. This absolutely "MINTY" condition US Model 1842 Springfield Armory-made .69 caliber musket is indeed 100% ORIGINAL, 100% COMPLETE, 100% VIVID and CRISP markings EVERYWHERE (including martial "JAS" cartouche on backstock), has NO REPAIRS and NO DAMAGE WHATSOEVER. It is still virtually BLEMISH-FREE and virtually RUST-FREE...only just a few minor bumps, blemish or pit, or scratch to let you know it is the REAL THING, and not some re-furbished specimen. Clearly, this 1849 production piece--though despite being martially inspected and approved for military service--NEVER "saw the light of day", nor "fired in anger" in any way. The action is perfectly crisp, great bore, not a crack to be found ANYWHERE on the GORGEOUS ORIGINAL walnut stock finish. I took the entire weapon APART--I just HAD to see for myself this was "the REAL DEAL"! Yes, THIS is EXACTLY what the US Federal regulations stated as "ARMORY-BRIGHT FINISH"! And it is!! No, there isn't any BUFFING or SCRATCH-PAD markings, where someone has cleaned it up. Coming on consignment from my renown collector buddy, he's thinning out his arsenal. Now this practically "ARSENAL NEW" Model 1842 can be yours! Even the threading on the original full-length ramrod is PERFECT!

These M1842's were indeed the WORKHORSE of Confederate soldiers from the very first shot, to the last when they stacked-arms at their surrender in 1865. No...this one wasn't "there"....but it's the FINEST representative specimen to have in YOUR ARSENAL!

I've seen one for sale not even in THIS FINE of condition for over $3000! No need to throw away your hard-earned money!

THE Confederate CLASSIC Sidearm, Imported and Used from Cavalrymen & CS Cavalry Units (such as J.E.B. Stuart's 1st Virginia Cavalry) to Presentation Pieces for Famous Confederate Officer's ("Stonewall" Jackson!)

100% ORIGINAL, 100% Complete, STUNNING CONDITION, FULLY-FUNCTIONAL, Including the Original Casewith Original Accouterments, and the Retailer's Tag (though well-worn)

ALL-MATCHING Patent # 31362, ALL-MATCHING Sub-Inspector/Production Numbers "873"

One of the most SHOCKINGLY BEAUTIFUL specimens you will ever see, this ALL-ORIGINAL and PHENOMENAL weapon--being in it's ORIGINAL RETAILER'S CASE with accouterments and bullets!--is the ICONIC Beaumont-Adams 54 Bore (.442 caliber) 12" long Revolver that was among the very CREAM of Confederate sidearms. As is WELL DOCUMENTED through pre-and early-war state purchases, such as those documented in the "Firearms From Europe" Civil War reference book, Virginia, Alabama, and Georgia ALL purchased "Adams Army Revolvers" BEFORE the first shots at Fort Sumter! Specific units such as the famous 1st Virginia Cavalry under J. E. B. Stuart, the 5th Virginia, and 5th Georgia Cavalry are documented with Adams Revolvers being issued to them at the outset of the War. Famous Confederate officers such as General Magruder and "Stonewall" Jackson were presented with cased specimens. There are also several well documented surviving Confederate images of cavalrymen brandishing this most elegantly beautiful, and most coveted sidearm of any Confederate cavalryman or officer. We know through the advertisements in many Confederate newspapers throughout the war that Southern retailers were receiving these through the blockade to sell on the private market.

This specimen is the most beautiful I have ever seen....EVER. The blued finish is so fine--with only the most minor wear or blemish--that it makes one scratch their head in almost disbelief! With both the case-top brass inlay AND the trigger guard bearing the engraved cursive "T T", this weapon was specifically purchased or presented to an individual--and it clearly NEVER fired a shot "in anger" in any battle! Too bad we'll never know who "T T" was! But this stunning beauty is coming out of my South Carolina collector friend in Greer for consignment, so there is DEFINITELY a "Southern Spice" to this piece! EVERYTHING upon this piece is simply almost "FACTORY NEW"! ALL of the markings are VIVIDLY CRISP and CLEAR--literally as clear as the DAY IT WAS MADE!--from the London proof marks upon the barrel (double-proofs, as always) and upon the cylinder by each chamber, to the "ADAMS PATENT No. 31362" on the frame, to the matching "No. 31362" on the cylinder, to all the matching sub-inspector/production numbers "873" upon the loading plunger, the cylinder front-face, and the trigger guard. The retailer's marking atop the flat of the frame to the barrel is so perfectly legible, bearing the London retailer's marking of "J. BLANCH & SON, 29 GRACE CHURCH St. LONDON". This was the London retailer John Blanch, whose original case bears his original paper retailer's tag, though it is quite worn. The classic British elegance and quality of manufacture and style is in "full glory" with this piece, from the exquisite checkered grips, to the hand-carved accent lines. The action is absolutely as CLEAN and CRISP as the day it was made! Functions in both single AND double action--FLAWLESSLY! Every nipple is original, still blued, and in almost "new" condition. These Beaumont-Adams' introduced a rather revolutionary "safety" catch for the cylinder--one of the earliest and successful form of a "safety" device to be made upon any firearm, to which "safety" settings/devices are now upon almost every weapon made in the world since the late 1800's! On most Beaumont-Adams', this slide-catch is usually BROKEN-OFF at the tip, or entirely missing....but NOT SO on this one!

The original case of John Blanch is 100% INTACT and ORIGINAL--to which the green felt lining and his retailer's tag attest to by the wear! Inside are the classic accouterments sold with this piece: the GORGEOUS "54"-marked (for 54 bore/.442 caliber) DOUBLE-CAVITY Adams mold, made of brass with the STILL BLUED sprue-cutting top slider. There are 11 original lead 2-ring Adams minnie's inside. The cleaning rod with detachable top to expose the threaded end for worming any stuck bullets is in PERFECT condition. The typical "ELLY BRO LONDON" small tin for percussion caps is present, as well as an original cleaning cloth. The ONLY thing missing is the powder flask.

The FINEST of the FINE! Truly a Confederate Iconic Sidearm, with all the History and Beauty that the Beaumont-Adams Revolver holds!

All-Matching Serial # Pre-War Production Specimen, Within the Documented Serial # Range Purchased By South, According to the Seminal Research & Publication by Mr. James D. McAulay on Maynard Carbines

Acquired from East Mississippi Family, Bearing a Hand-Carved "Star" Motif & Initials "SA" Inside Patchbox, Proported by the Family as Their Mississippi Ancestor's

Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Tennessee Purchased nearly ALL (90%) of these 1st Model Maynards (Read the KILLER Historic & Specific Details Below!!!)

"Nothing to do with Maynard but load her up, turn her North, and pull the trigger. If 20 of them don't clean-out ALL of Yankeedom, then I'm a liar," boasted a young Mississippi recruit to the Oxford, Mississippi's "Intelligencer" newspaper in 1861, as he headed off to war .

AND...this may be THE MAYNARD that Mississippian was holding and boasting about! Hey--out of the 800 purchased by the state of Mississippi...there's LITERALLY a 1 in 800 chance!

"Holy Grail", indeed! The MOST COVETED 1st Model Maynard Carbine is so endeared within the collecting community (obviously more so with Southern collectors!). It is a fascinating tale about a truly uniquely designed weapon--and one that was REVERED by the Confederates who were lucky enough to have them at the outset of the War, for the South would be PLAGUED throughout the War for the want of a true "military-grade" rifled carbine for their mounted service. The weapon designed, patented, and then produced under the Massachusetts Arms Company, was the unique and revolutionary idea of Dr. Edward Maynard--dentist by trade, but obviously better known for his weaponolgy than dentistry! He designed the "Maynard Priming System" for priming a firearm by use of a fulminated strip to put over-top of the nipple, versus have to make the shooter take all the time to prime/cap their weapon. The US Ordnance Department ran trials of the Maynard Primer System, and found it to be effective enough in trials that they dedicated their latest military model rifle--the US Model 1855--strictly for using the Maynard Primer System. Dr. Maynard wasn't resting easy upon this success, for he had GREATER visions of his OWN weapon in mind...which would give birth to the (1st Model) Maynard Carbine, utilizing not only his Maynard Primer system, but with a GEAR that would allow the shooter to have the primer fulminated tape AUTOMATICALLY push the tape forward after every firing! A MOST INGENIOUS and EFFECTIVE idea....so long as it wasn't raining, or damp enough outside to moisten the primer tape! This would ultimately be the downfall of the Maynard Primer fulminate system, and return to good-ol' percussion caps.

Dr. Maynard’s breech loading long weapons were produced in both carbine and rifle lengths, with 20” and 26” barrels respectively, and were offered in both .35 and .50 caliber. The US Ordnance Department would run trials of Dr. Maynard's weapons in 1857, and found them to be efficient and effective firearms, procuring an order for several hundred for US military Service. Later, even the Navy and US Revenue Departments would make purchases of their own. The .50 caliber arms were deemed "military" models, while the much smaller calibered .35 models were deemed "sporting" models. Maynard not only saw his chance at making money with the government, but in selling at large on the open market...which would lead his famous weapon for "destiny" within the brewing conflict politically between the states at the time. According to the renown arms researcher, author and historian, Mr. James D. McAulay, THOUSANDS were purchased privately by Southerners, many of whom would become VERY FAMOUS in the Confederacy! Amongst those purchased by Southern states during 1860-1861, they included South Carolina’s ever-famous Wade Hampton, Georgia senator Robert Toombs (later CS General, known more for his fight at the stone bridge at Sharpsburg), and Vice President John Breckenridge of Kentucky (leading all Kentuckian's that would fight for the South in 1861, later Division commander in the Army of Tennessee)--all of who became famous Confederate Generals accomplishing great feats for their beloved South during the Civil War.

This One Coming Through the Hands of THE KERR "GURU", Mr. Valmor J. Forgett, Who Wrote the Seminal Published Article Regarding the Complete Knowledge We Have Documented and Known about Kerr Revolvers

JS/Anchor-Marked Specimen, Matching Patent/Serial Numbered 10,164 -- This is among the LATEST DOCUMENTED JS/Anchor CS Imported Patent Numbered Specimens (as Mr. Forgett Published in His Article)

Not ONLY is she a truly MOST GORGEOUS and "iconic" Confederate sidearm in the entire collecting world, being an original BRITISH and CONFEDERATE example...but this is indeed a KERR that the "GURU" of ALL KERR's--Mr. Valmor J. Forgett--himself specifically published this specimen within his seminal publishing "Why Kerr's?" ! The matching serial/patent number 10,164 is upon the cylinder and frame, and the crisp London and British proofs ABOUND EVERYWHERE, as does the "KERR'S PATENT" and the London Armoury marking, as well as the "L.A.C." (London Armoury Company) stamping on the side of the barrel, with the British/London proofs there as well. FULLY-FUNCTIONAL and COMPLETE. It bears the now KNOWN marking of that of John Southgate of the London Armoury (their Chief Arms Proof/Inspector) that was then employed by the Confederacy in 1861 for Caleb Huse, and used his "JS/Anchor" stamping. It was Caleb Huse who acquired the FULL LONDON ARMOURY CONTRACT in April, 1861, that ALL KERR REVOLVER PRODUCTION would be EXCLUSIVELY for the CONFEDERACY ALONE. This .44 caliber (54 Bore in English gauging) beauty is 100% complete, BEAUTIFUL, and FULLY-FUNCTIONAL in EVERY way. Just look at the pics and see for yourself! And NO...EVERY SINGLE ORIGINAL NIPPLE is CRISP and un-batted. It is FREE from ANY oxidation. As Mr. Forgett published, "In checking my serial records for Kerr's I have either owned or observed and taken notes on, out of 66 guns in the serial number range of 1,050 to 10,164--those being the lowest and highest numbered guns with the J. S. Anchor markings I have ever seen...", this obviously was among the VERY LAST to hit Southern Shores through the blockade and be issued into the field. Clearly, being documented by Mr. Forgett as being of the LATEST KNOWN JS/ANCHOR Confederate specimens, it didn't have enough time to be "rode hard, and put it home wet"!!! THAT is why this phenomenally beautiful specimen is so CLEAN and in COMBAT-READY condition, with a LOT of remaining faded original case-coloring.

I LOVE IT when the PICTURES will do ALL the selling for me...and to have the Kerr "GURU" specifically have THIS VERY PIECE and publish it...WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?!?!

You want a REAL CONFEDERATE SIDEARM of ICONIC HISTORY and COLLECTABILITY...COME AND GET IT!

$4000 SOLD

Austrian Carbines w/Ramrod Channel & Ramrod Are EXCLUSIVELY 100% Imported Civil War Used Specimens

This is a truly GORGEOUS example of the extremely scarce and 100% exclusively Civil War used Austrian .71 caliber Model 1851 Carbine. If you are a subscriber to the North South Trader's Civil War Magazine....then YOU ALREADY KNOW the EXPLOSION of incredible NEW INFORMATION and UNDERSTANDING regarding this indeed rare, and most desirable Civil War carbine! (and if you are NOT a subscriber to North South Trader's Civil War Magazine---YOU MUST BE CRAZY!!!! LOL! SUBSCRIBE NOW!!!) Thanks to the extensive research and knowledge-gathering published in the NSCWT Magazine (vol. 35, No. 4 of this year---came out around June this year) authored by my great friend, Mr. Tim Prince, and the "godfather" of Civil War imported weapons, Mr. Russ Pritchard, we have an even GREAT understanding, clarification, and knowledge regarding this phenomenal weapons and their Civil War usage. Though you may see some of these carbines for sale out there, you will rarely find one that was altered for use in the Civil War with the ramrod channel reamed-out and the original ramrod within it. Just like the Austrian Jagerstutzen rifle, this carbine was NEVER made in Austria with a ramrod channel. The cavalryman carried the ramrod attached separately in a ramrod sling, so it would not get so easily lost in combat trying to reload on horseback or with a falling horse. Those bought and imported into the our Civil War were reamed with a ramrod channel and the original ramrod then inserted are EXCLUSIVELY Civil War purchased (by both sides, North & South). HOWEVER, again--thanks to the SEMINAL research and documentation by Mr. Tim Prince and Mr. Russ Pritchard--we do NOW KNOW that indeed SOME of these Model 1851's were imported AND ISSUED in service here in the war WITHOUT the RAMROD CHANNEL. There is an EXCELLENT wartime image of two Union cavalrymen...BOTH ARMED with these Model 1851 Austrian carbines...BUT NO RAMRODS with NO RAMROD CANNELS! But again....when you DO have the reamed ramrod channel, YOU KNOW 100% WITHOUT QUESTION...so there's NO QUESTIONING whether this one was bought and brought here....IT WAS!!! This specimen has the original ramrod--full-length, of course--within the original channel. Better yet, the entire piece is absolutely gorgeous in appearance and condition. The Austrian beechwood has such a beautiful look all over this gorgeous weapon--actually a lighter color that one usually see's--very UNIQUE and pretty! NO STRUCTURAL CRACKS, BIG CHIPPED PIECES or REPAIRS, and no apologies whatsoever. Barely any minor field/combat wear to be seen...just enough to PROVE it "saw the elephant" in combat. Only a hairline crack of REAL FIELD SERVICE WEAR and a small period square tiny "tack" the trooper put in there--again, no structural issue whatsoever. Simply gorgeous history and appearance all-around! The metal has the fantastic untouched patina. NO PITTING from oxidation ANYWHERE, excepting some minor bolster wear around the nipple PROVING this beauty is a true "war veteran" that saw action, "firing in anger". Fully-functional OF COURSE!! And combined with the VIVID12-groove rifling down the entire length of the 14.5" barrel that remains clearly visible, with only minor combat/firing wear (again, this one "saw the elephant" in action!), this carbine is READY TO FIGHT AGAIN! The classic and typical Austrian inspector/assembly numbers are found EVERYWHERE, as usual. All of these M1851 carbines (called "Kammer-Karabiner" in German) were originally tube-lock pattern firing system weapons, before they adopted percussion firing systems. These are sometimes referred to as "Fruwirth" carbines, named after Johann and Ferdinand Fruwirth, who were private gunmakers for these. The weapon is 30" overall in length, and these were all later converted to percussion by brazing a bolster (or sometimes just a cone-in-barrel). The barrel with the unique and very crisp 12-groove rifling utilized the Delvigne system of "upsetting" the the lead ball to engage the rifling. Over 10,000 of these were purchased and imported into the Union by purchasing agent George Schuyler in Bohemia during late 1861. Arriving early in 1862, these were immediately sent and issued into Fremont's western command, and used until better carbines (especially breechloaders) were acquired. Though exact numbers of Confederate imported specimens are not known, though we clearly have existing ID'ed Southern specimens today, and know very well how Caleb Huse (chief CS purchasing agent overseas) was a far better procurer of Austrian and British firearms than his Yankee counterparts! This one comes out of a north Mississippi collection, and can "whistle Dixie" with the best of them! Sorry--no names carved anywhere, and no "fantastical" history or provenance...but it doesn't need it!

Excellent and rare carbines like this aren't easy to come by! Yet compared to any run-of-the-mill Burnside, Smith, Starr, Sharps, or Spencer carbine (made and used by the tens of thousands, literally), this meager price is a true bargain. And unlike those other US carbines, you don't know if they were really used in service or not (excepting with serial number ID provenance or martial cartouches, as many carbines were sold commercially to the public, out west, exported, etc).

With this beauty, you KNOW it was exclusively bought, imported, reamed for ramrod, and used by either the North or South for military use ONLY! No guessing involved here...it's the real-deal, Civil War-imported specimen. AND A TRUE BEAUTY! Good luck finding a better one!

AND NOW...thanks to the seminal published work my Mr. Pritchard and Prince published in the ever-famous, one AND ONLY, NORTH SOUTH TRADER'S MAGAZINE...guess what is happening to their prices....up...UP...AND AWAY!!! You better buy them at Champion Hill Relic prices....I saw at the Gettysburg show THREE of THESE for sale STARTING at $2000, and as high as $4000 !!!!

IF you are NOT a subscriber to North South Trader's Civil War magazine...Lord help you! SUBSCRIBE.....NOW!!!! You have NO IDEA what you are MISSING....

An H. Osborne Sub-Contracted Specimen, w/Clear Roman Numerals & CS "Dots" Proofs From The CS Arsenal (Reference Murphy & Madaus "Confederate Rifles & Muskets"--See Below)

This was one of those "HOLY-MOLY" moments--followed by a BIG REBEL YELL once I got this home and took it apart to replace the broken mainspring! And it's such a cool story, given I had bought it from truly one of the TOP, RENOWN Civil War/Antique Firearms EXPERTS alive today, Mr. Cliff Sophia of CS Arms (who WORKED for YEARS under Mr. David Condon, who is recognized as the "master" of all American Antique Firearms--so much so that he is THE consultant for American antique firearm to the SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE!) Mr. Sophia had just purchased this Model 1816 H. Osborne sub-contracted ALL-ORIGINAL Flintlock at the Dalton Show. I saw it right off the bat setting up on Friday (dealer set-up day), and loving flintlocks---and always buying from him, given his knowledge and quality---I asked what he needed price-wise to get it. He explained it was totally in the original flintlock state--no re-converted flintlock battery, but obviously the action didn't work, and probably needed a mainspring to be replaced. Since he just got it, he never had a chance to take the lockplate out. Warning me that "finding any M1816 original or repro parts, especially if a mainspring, to just thrown in any M1816 made by any maker isn't easy," because they weren't "mass-produced"--in the earl y 1800's, it was HAND-CRAFTSMANSHIP--though there was an established "pattern" to be adhered to, dictated by the Model adopted by the Government, even within the same maker, no two weapons were made quite exactly the same! But I bought it anyway, as it was an all-original and complete specimen, and I could get a gunsmith to make whatever repairs necessary to make it functional again. Just visit Lodgewood for parts (his last name being "Osborne", and only collects "H. OSBORNE"-made muskets, incidentally!) Well, I take it home after Dalton, and put it in the corner. I finally get the time to take the lockplate apart before the Mansfield Show--knowing Mr. Osborne of Lodgewood would be there with all his parts--so I could see what the problem was that would need to be fixed to make it functional again. Behold...no mainspring at all...but the MULTIPLE "XII" chiseled CS arsenal re-work markings on the lockplate and sear-spring, as well as the "matching "dots" enigmatic demarcations upon the lockplate and back of the flint-hammer....and I gave a REBEL YELL! Pulled my Murphy and Maddau book out to see if I could nail-down a specific CS arsenal, but with 13 shops/arsenals in Richmond alone, and as many in North Carolina (and more small, undocumented shops), we shall never truly know which shop did this work. You can see below excerpts from the Murphy and Madaus book exactly the same roman Numerating and "dots" for CS arsenal re-works, production, alterations, etc. On the bottom of the barrel on the breech is also the Roman Numeral "III". So, when I went to Mansfield with the lockplate to show to Mr. Osborne, I of course had to show Cliff and others THE DISCOVERY! Cliff, being the true gentleman and great man he is, was thrilled for me with finding a truly RARELY SEEN CS arsenal alteration of a FLINTLOCK. In the early, heady days of secession and the massing of troops in Richmond--who only a fraction were armed with weapons they brought from home, and the Richmond Government and their horribly old, small, and out-dated arsenal (thanks to the 1808 Militia Act) had tens-of-thousands of UN-ARMED soldiers in instruction camps--the local shops and arsenals were FRANTICALLY taking ANY serviceable weapon, and refurbishing, repairing, and altering/converting into PRIMER/CONE firing weapons. But to see a FLINTLOCK was was CS arsenal refurbished, and NOT converted to percussion-firing nipple/cone system clues us to the fact this was a VERY EARLY altered piece--frantically refurbished to get literally thrown out the door into the awaiting open arms of a new recruit in need of SOME kind of operation weapon, as 75,000 Union volunteers were amassing at Lincoln's call! ONLY A HANDFUL of CS ARSENAL REFURBISHED FLINTLOCKS ARE KNOWN IN EXISTENCE--again, the overwhelming majority received a crude conversion to percussion-firing system, ripping the flintlock battery out. But desperation breeds NECESSITY, and this one they didn't even waste another minute more than they had to to get it operational and out the door to be issued ASAP.

The piece is GORGEOUS, 100% original right down to both sling swivels, original ramrod, and even the flint! CRISP "H. OSBORNE" maker-marking with Eagle's Head motif, and legible barrel proof. Mr. Osborne had an original mainspring that came CLOSE to fitting, and with a little filing, we got it to fit and work! That's when he told me, "You know my name is 'Osborne'....and do you know the only weapons I collect/own are H. Osborne's?! I've NEVER seen or even heard of on of these [CS arsenal conversions]!"

You got that right! But she's been "refurbished" again...ready for another fight!

(See Pages 617-636 in "Confederate Rifles & Muskets" Seminole Reference Book by Murphy & Maddaus

Musket Bears ALL the Robinson Conversion/Alteration Traits (as well documented by Murphy & Maddaus)

Crudely Filed Double "XX" Roman Numerals on Underside of Barrel, Arabic-Font Production/Inspection Marks on Barrel and Hammer, Obliterated Original US Barrel Proofs, Crudely-Made Hammer, and Tell-Tale "Screw-In" Brazed and Filed-Smooth Bolster Conversion

Only an Estimated 18,000 Muskets Altered/Converted By Robinson for Virginia , North Carolina, & CS Ordnance Department

NC Soldier "Hall" family Oral History--came with Pre-War .69 Cal. Complete Cartridge Box, and "Hall" Inlayed Into Musket Stock a Brass Masonic Medallion, and Large Brass Floral/Basket Inlay (probably an item from his wife back home)

When the fledgling Confederacy in 1861--with high hopes and soaring rhetoric--was in it's infancy, it quickly realized (after the "blustering" and boasting of "one Southerner can lick 20 Yanks...."), that it would take WEAPONS to kill those "20 yanks" per every Southerner that was enlisting and volunteering at astonishing rates. Here, the "confederacy" of loosely centralized governed states all ran into the same problem: plenty of men to fight--hardly any weapons to arm them with....and those precious few available were almost always HORRIBLY out-dated and UNFIT for service in a "modern war" of military-grade RIFLES. A new Confederate nation--based on an AGRARIAN economy of cotton, tobacco, corn, and rice with slave-labor--politically ABHORRED and denounced the North and their minds for "industry", factories, manufacturing, child and female labor, etc, before the War broke-out. But once war came...the very thing the South had just denounced about the North, she had to quickly grow to become, if the South had any hopes of winning a real war against the "United" States of America: the South would HAVE to RAPIDLY "industrialize", or die. Importation, based upon cotton, tobacco--even literally hogs-heads--to foreign nations would only go so far. And Confederate paper money and paper bonds would become worthless--only good for "shin-plasters" (repairing the bottoms of their shins and soles of you shoe back then). The North had at LEAST a 14-to-1 ratio of gunmakers in their favor to the South in 1861..and their production output was a ratio even GREATER than that ratio! Thanks to the 1808 Federal "Militia Act" mandating each state to have "armed militia's" ready to be used/pressed into service in defense of the United States (since the US government had a TINY standing "US FEDERAL" army, thanks to low taxation, which they fought against the British to form this very new nation), each state was forced by the 1808 Militia Act to purchase weapons for each state's arsenal for their militia's. But their militia's were very small (only in the few thousands), and the weapons they bought from 1808 through 1860 were majorily FLINTLOCK smoothbore muskets...many of which dated as far back as 1808! Thus began the South's "plowshares into swords" transition (quite literally, like the Nashville Plow Works!) of producing, procuring, and trying to "modernize" their small allotment of antiquated weapons. Hilariously, as the 1860 election came near--and new rifled weapons both here and abroad were being offered for sale to this continent--wise Southern Governors, foreseeing the storm-clouds of War, began purchasing what few "modern" rifled weapons they could from the North and abroad that they could afford. They literally would continue to buy weapons and all forms of war material from the North even PAST the Battle of Bull Run in July 1861--thanks to Lincoln! [Lincoln would NOT recognize the new "Confederate States of America" as a separate "nation"--which he was wise to do, otherwise Britain or France or Austria could formally make international alliances with the recognized "CSA"...Lincoln knew his history...if the FRENCH had NOT sent their Navy to bottle-up Cornwallis at Yorktown, there would NOT BE A UNITED STATES of AMERICA today! Since Lincon simply deemed the Confederacy as but "states in rebellion" within the United States, it was purely legal for Northern retailers and makers to sell to the South! God Bless Yankee Capitalism! Their own sons were fighting in the field while making weapons and accouterments being sold to the very Southern soldiers shooting to kill them! Someone finally tapped Lincoln on the shoulder after Bull Run, informing him of this legal fact that because the South were still declared "states" still within the Union, no law PROHIBITED retailers and makers to sell to the South....Lincoln quickly signed an Executive Order to stop this!]

Thus, small "cottage" industries of clothing, accouterments, leather, weapons, and all forms of war-material sprang-up everywhere in the South, like tiny spring flowers. Emphasize "tiny". Only through the direct intervention of the Confederate centralized government (again, ironically against that which the South railed against as one of their keystone reason for seceding!) did the South manage to produce, logistically organize and distribute, import (which was of the GREATEST assistance to equipping the Confederate armies in the field to last 4 years of total war against the Northern industrial and numerical superiority and might). And like all good Civil War stories, the story of one, Mr. Samuel C. Robinson--who operated the "Belvidere Planing Mills" at 9th and Arch streets in Richmond in 1859--is rather interesting. In 1860, he was listed as a "lumber inspector"! But his experience with the woodworking machinery put him into contact with a Connecticut-born, and New York-based producer of steam engines, sewing machines, and planing machines, Mr. John H. Lester. Lester--despite a Yankee--was certainly a GOOD CAPITALIST! At the request of 42 wealthy Richmond, Virginia entrepreneurs, Lester moved all his machinery and many of his skilled New York laborers to Virginia to start the "Old Dominion Company" to make wood-planing machines, steam engines, sewing machines....but patent infringement right's legal troubles Lester had with local Richmond and northern competitors forced a lawsuit, and eventually, Lester's Company that was established in the old Richmond Gas Works facility sat idle for several months in late 1861. Finally--trying to make the best of it--he re-started his firm in late 1861 as the the "Union Manufacturing Company", which would go on to offer it's production capacity to alter, restore, repair, and convert weapons for the Commonwealth of Virginia--and later the CS Ordnance Department. Lester was approached by Robinson in late 1861 for some "joint-venture" work, designs, and weapon's manufacturing. Literally, one of their joined efforts was a revolver (copy variant of the Colt Navy), that they sold the rights to Spiller & Burr (yes, the extremely rare and highly-collectable CS Spiller and Burr revolver!), and later, Lester and Robinson would produce a copy of the Sharps Model 1859 Carbine. But it was the sly wood-working Samuel C. Robinson that "wormed" his way in what was a "silent partnership" with Lester and his machinery, such that Samuel C. Robinson had his OWN contract business with the Virginia Commonwealth, North Carolina, and eventually the CS Ordnance Department--but using Lester's factory and equipment! Though there is a great deal of excellent historical documentation regarding Samuel Robinson and his alterations, repairs, refurbishments, and spare-parts business for the Confederacy that you can read in the seminole Confederate weapons reference book "Confederate Rifles and Muskets" by Dr. John Murphy and Mr. Howard Maddaus (and I HIGHLY SUGGEST you buy one if you don't already own one!).

With the existing known examples, and the plethora of documentation that Murphy and Maddaus researched and provided in their book, WE KNOW 100%, WITHOUT QUESTION, that the musket offered for sale here is 100% a Samuel Robinson altered/conversion musket. It meets ALL of the S.C. Robinson traits, markings, characteristics, etc. The traits, as exhibited on this piece, are as follows: the screw-in bolster being brazed and into where the frizzen pan of the once flintlock battery was, and with the screw filed to a smooth, flush finish: the Arabic-font production (perhaps inspection) marks of two sets of numbers, one over the other, on both the underside of the barrel and the backside of the crudely-made hammer (this specimen has the numbers "22" over "8"): the underside of the barrel bears the hand-filed Roman Numerals of "XX", which Robinson used the classic CS Roman Numeral inspection markings (like so many others) on all his pieces, varying from "II" to "L" and about every Roman Numeral number in between (I've included an example from Murphy and Maddaus of an S.C. Robinson specimen with "XX" marking): the original Springfield barrel proofs are LONG obliterated from the barrel's breech. In the refurbishment process, the front-sight aperture/bayonet lug on the barrel was removed. It must also be mentioned that the sling swivels are NOT the original Springfield-made swivels, as they are WAY to crudely-forged AND peened into the sling-swivel mounts...which can only conclude that they, too, can ONLY be re-work/re-furbishment by Robinson.

The weapon is very beautiful, as you can see in the many fine photo's below! The weapon itself is a 100% COMPLETE, 100% ORIGINAL, 100% Samuel C. Robinson of Richmond flintlock-converted Springfield 1830-date smoothbore Model 1816 musket. This was a part of the 1862 contract orders (see Murphy & Maddaus). The weapon bears NO DAMAGE (no structural cracks or big chinks of wood missing) and NO MODERN REPAIRS--only those from Robinson in 1862! The original ramrod is just slightly shortened--maybe by an inch...why...I don't know, nor neither care! Still cocks and fires, despite the CLEAR, HEAVY COMBAT USAGE exhibited by the wood "burnout" by the bolster area. This weapon saw HEAVY COMBAT based upon the wood "burnout"--something you can NOT FAKE! From 1862 on, this "pumpkin-slinger" (as the soldier's often called their smoothbore .69 cal. muskets firing a FAT ROUND LEAD BALL like this one!) slung a LOT of lead at the Yankee's! And the Johnny that used this musket sure must have liked it a lot, for he put his own VERY SPECIAL TOUCHES to it! He was obviously a Mason, as he inlayed a beautiful brass Masonic medallion into the backstock of the weapon. Also on the backstock is a very small brass oval inlayed into it--but what it is or means, I do not know. On the other side of the stock is a LARGE, BRASS BASKET of flowers inlayed into the stock. Must have been a flower-lover! (LOL!) But in all seriousness, it is arguably some piece of jewelry or something from his wife from home...he was proud of being a Mason, and showed it on his musket, so having a loving reminder from home (flowery basket--NOT exactly "manly", unless he was a florist before the war!) was quite common.

This weapon was purchased together with a pre-war .69 caliber COMPLETE cartridge box--complete with original shoulder sling, eagle breastplate, US boxplate, both tins inside, both sling buckles and finial, and initials "DH" carved on the inside of the leather sling. The cartridge box shows classic field wear, such as "crazing" (the cracking/flaking of leather outer skin), the closure flap worn-through from relentless loading/reaching for cartridges in combat, and where the leather sling would rest at the top of the soldier's shoulder, the leather finally tore from all the combat use, and it has the classic "Johnny Reb" field repair of crudely stitching back together to keep his precious .69 cal. cartridge box in use. The family did NOT know their ancestor's name (all they cared about was MONEY), but said they were from North Carolina, and the family name was "Hall"--which would correspond to the "H" in the carved initials of "DH". Since Robinson did perform alterations/conversions for North Carolina, the story does bear some merit. But who he was--outside of a North Carolinian and a Mason with the initials "DH" will NEVER be known. There are a LOT of "D. Hall's" in the North Carolina records!

If you want the pre-war .69 caliber cartridge box that came with this musket, it is listed separately for sale below this listing.

PRICED CHEAPER than a Colt revolver...and how many HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of them (Army, Navy, Pocket Models) did Colt make?

Here you get a RARE, estimated 18,000, S. C. Robinson of Richmond Confederate Musket! This is a "no-brainer" decision, my friends...

Original British P53 Enfield Rifle Made by the Rare & Highly Desirable "E. P. Bond" of "London", but Bearing the "Encircled JS" Exclusive CS Importation Marking

The "Encircled JS" Importation Marking of John Southgate, Chief London Viewer Hired for Caleb Huse/Confederate Chief Euro Procurement Agent

But it gets better...the stock and barrel bear FEDERAL CAPTURE matching inventory numbering, AND hand-carved initials/marks of "7 CV", believed to be that of the 7th Connecticut Volunteers (who helped capture Fort Fisher and other CS installations in the waning days of the war)

Ah yes...give me rarity...give me Confederate...give me some of the "international enigmatic" games of intrigue...and I WANT IT! Offered here to you is not only a 100% original and complete British Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle....and, oh, just happens to be the VERY desirable and rare "E. P. BOND" of "LONDON" produced specimens...it just so happens to bear one of the RAREST of Confederate importation markings known to exist! Purchased directly from my great friend--and future "Flayderman" of our 19th Century Firearms--Mr. Tim Prince, of College Hill Arsenal (www.CollegeHillArsenal.com). I had NEVER seen this mark with my own two eyes BEFORE. This is the (for better understanding, I'll use the "Modern Font" designation of "Times New Roman" Font) "JS" encircled marking that is in front of the brass buttplate tang, where you'd find the encircled "CH1" of Caleb Huse, OR the extremely rare script encircled "JS" (which I have seen a couple examples for myself). But this "Roman" font encircled JS is the documented and known marking of John Southgate, the once London Armoury Chief Viewer that was hired immediately by Mr. Caleb Huse of the Confederate Government/Chief Procurement Agent for the Confederacy in Europe in early 1861. You know the classic "JS/Anchor" marking of Mr. John Southgate, and again, I have seen the later encircled SCRIPT "JS" marking in the same spot, but this is my first time to personally see the "Roman" font encircled "JS"--which is clearly seen on the stock. This marking, and many, many more new and "enigmatic" Confederate importation markings, information, history, and the entire "underworld" of "international intrigue" behind the arms trade between the Europeans and the Confederacy will all be published shortly in a new book being authored and reviewed by the "Godfathers" of all-things Confederate and imported...so be patient (though I've grown way too impatient!!!) Once the Federals interdicting cargo shipments out of England starting getting "wise" to where the weapons and equipment was heading (and seizing any ship/shipments they could PROVE were Confederate-purchased), the levels of sneaking, falsifying cargo manifests of ownership, and the inspection markings had to keep changing....thus is why we see the "CH1" and "JS/Anchor" being phased-out later for more "secretive" different markings to throw-off the suspecting Federals. Or at least that's the theory!

Anyway, this specimen is--for a Confederate imported and issued specimen--in GORGEOUS, UNTOUCHED, 100% complete and fully-functional condition. It retains a CRISP bore with minimal wear, the minimum 30% or more of the original (and fading) case-coloring/bluing, having all original parts, from the nipple, the full-length threaded ramrod, rear flip-up elevator sight, AND a NICE "Johnny Reb touch" of a CRUDE replacement sling swivel! Both the "E.P. BOND / LONDON" and London Barrel Proof are equally clear and legible. Action also equally crisp. NO CHIPS or massive bolster wear, corrosion, etc...only the most MINOR Confederate soldier field wear (only a few bumps and bruises, and one hairline NON-STRUCTURAL crack in the foregrip of the stock). The original finish to the stock is not only so wonderfully beautiful, it has a natural "tiger-striping" to much of it, as you will see in the many pics below! There are several "kill nothces" (call them whatever you want), being obviously purposely carved notches into the bottom of the foregrip by the ramrod channel. But what's REALLY cool is the matching Federal capture inventory numbering in both the stock and the barrel tang of 1013 . This seems to go hand-in-hand with what Tim Prince and I theorize about the light hand-carvings along the spine of the buttstock in front of the encircled "JS"...there's some faded hand-carved initials, and what can be seen as a "7 CV" STAMPED with type-setting, to which by looking into how Civil War soldiers and units at the time of the war utilized abbreviations for, "CV" was used as an abbreviation for "Connecticut Volunteers" in several accounts. The 7th CT Volunteers were stationed in the deep south along the coast, from Florida, South Carolina, to eventually Fort Fisher in North Carolina. They helped with the famous 54th Mass. Colored Regiment in Battery Wagner's assault. They had many forays and incursions, fighting and capturing Confederates and weaponry. So it seems VERY LOGICAL that the "7 CV" 7th Connecticut Volunteers connection is real. But that's up to YOU to decide--they real "history" behind that marking is long gone, because the soldiers who handled this weapon are LONG DEAD! But what IS 100% certain is the CS-importation marking, AND the fact it WAS captured by the Federals and inventoried as such.

As always....I only offer the items I personally love...and if it's Confederate and "ultra-rare"....I LOVE IT, and I WANT IT! [And so do you!]

Rarer Still Being a BARNETT of LONDON produced Pattern 1856 British Enfield Carbine

Exclusive CS Viewer & Importation Mark of John Southgate, London, Employed by the Confederacy as Chief Inspector of all purchased weapons out of England

Purchased Directly from Larry Hicklen by one of the TOP PRIVATE COLLECTORS in the Franklin, Tennessee area (the collector's name shared with future buyer)

Well....I can finally say that I am starting the "parade" of the "killer" relics I've been touting about! WHEW! ("About time!" I can hear many of you saying out there!) This one is a particularly gorgeous and ultra-rare Confederate piece that has literally just about EVERYTHING "going for it"--outside of a direct Confederate cavalryman's ID to it (though the CS cavalryman's initials of "JWE" are perfectly carved clear upon the stock! Too bad we don't know who he was....). This "killer" Confederate imported weapon was so graciously given to me for consigning for sale to you, from my very dear and spiritually-close friend in Franklin, Tennessee, who is without hesitation, one of the top collectors around! (His name is withheld for what should be obvious reasons, but will be shared with the future buyer.) He purchased this piece directly from the legendary "Godfather" of the relic dealership industry, Mr. Larry Hicklen, several years back. This weapon has a lot of 'splainin' to be done to describe all the rarity and beauty of this Confederate imported and used weapon, so let's get right down to it!

To begin, it is a classic--but EXTREMELY RARE and HIGHLY SOUGH-AFTER by Confederate Cavalrymen--original English-made Pattern 1856 Cavalry Carbine, having the full-length 21" barrel with 3 lands-and-grooves rifling seen clearly all the way down the barrel (see picture of barrel breech below). These weapons were heavily sought-after for Confederate importation, as Confederate horsemen were so POORLY EQUIPPED throughout the entire War (why most CS cavalrymen started-out with brought-from-home shotguns, muskets, cut-down shotguns and older .69 cal. obsolete smoothbore muskets cut-down for cavalry service--many of whom NEVER received "proper" and modern military-grade cavalry carbines or weaponry the entire war--and the Confederacy's lack of military-grade carbines at the outset of the war, coupled with their inability to produce enough QUALITY or QUANTITY of their own Southern-made carbines). As noted in the "Firearms from Europe" Civil War Reference book, "thousands of these British carbines, including both cavalry and artillery models, were imported by the Confederacy. These arms were highly regarded by Southern horsemen for their accuracy. Having an abundance of carbines available, Northern importation was small, with only 200 Enfield Cavalry Carbines ....and an additional 50 carbines....were purchased." The weapon bears what appear to be ALL ORIGINAL WARTIME PARTS. The GORGEOUS, untouched, original-finished stock bears no structural damage WHATSOEVER---NOT EVEN A HAIRLINE CRACK can I find!!! It has VERY FEW dents or dings from it's clear combat and campaign service with it's Confederate horse-soldier, as you can see in the many fine photographs below. Only one small area near the top barrel band on the lockplate-side shows that tell-tale Cavalryman's "rubbing" spot--where whether in a carbine saddle boot or sling, it gently rubbed that tiny area from the continual riding--ONLY PROVES this baby SAW REAL ACTION IN THE FIELD! Let alone, the trooper's initials "JWE" clearly in period carved font upon the stock. The original, standard P56 Carbine rear sight base of three steps for distances of 100, 200, and 300 yards is solidly present, with the yardage numbers crisp and clear. In fact, ALL of the markings upon this weapon are 100% CRISP and CLEAR! From the London barrel proof at the barrel's breech, to the "BARNETT LONDON" lockplate marking, the "JWE" soldier's initials, and last--and most importantly--the exclusive Confederate inspection/viewer's proof stamping for importation of "JS/Anchor", being determined as that of the viewer John Southgate, a British London Armoury British viewer/inspector, who took a "leave of absence" from the London Armoury in 1861, and was solely employed through Caleb Huse and the Confederate government as their Chief Inspector/Viewer of British purchased weaponry. And this is where a lot of the "coolness" and rarity comes into play!

As you will notice, the original P56 swivel ramrod and assembly for the "T"-shaped ramrod is missing. This is NOT uncommon, as the rigors of combat proved too much for an adrenaline-rushed cavalryman trying to maneuver the ramrod's swivel assembly to rapidly reload UNDER FIRE--and *POP* comes-off the simple metal "LUMP" (as even the "Firearms from Europe" reference book calls it!) that held the ramrod/swivel assembly to the bottom of the barrel. YOU CAN SEE the traced outline of where that "lump" of metal once held the original swivel assembly under the barrel! Whoever "JWE" was, he clearly lost (while riding) or chucked the broken-off assembly, and replaced it with what clearly appears to be a period-made, crudely forged, and simple full-length carbine ramrod with small conical nose--yet another classic, archetypical "Johnny Reb-made-do" replacement and fix to keep his prized weapon in service! In fact, it is believed by some collectors that the cavalrymen popped the swivel assembly off ON PURPOSE, because of how it cumbersomely slowed the time in which the horseman could get the ramrod in it's fixed swivel position to ram another load as quickly as possible...all in the face of his enemy in heated, close-quarters combat (Billy Yank usually had FAST BREECHLOADING carbines or REPEATING carbines!) This piece also has the extremely desirable, rare, and collectable distinction of being a Barnett of London-made specimen--a private famous London gunmaker. This ain't your "run-of-the-mill" Enfield with "Tower" ! The "BARNETT / LONDON" maker's marking upon the lockplate is VIVIDLY clear. All of the metal bears the identical appearance and patina--being a rather frosted mix of faded bluing/case-hardening wearing through to silvery metal. NO PITTING of ANY NOTE except for the slight bolster wear--once again proving that it was indeed FIRED IN ANGER against its hated enemy in blue. But the wear, as seen in the pictures, is extremely minor. No chipping or "burning" of the wood stock or mortise at all around the bolster, once again confirming how light the wear is. The action is CRISP and FULLY-FUNCTIONAL in every way, of course. These P56 Cavalry carbines were never produced to have sling swivels, of course, and thus had a sling-ring and bar upon the backstock, which the two main lockplate screw-heads in the backstock served as the anchoring for the sling-ring bar itself. The sling-ring bar on this specimen appears to be 100% original, but again, it may be a Confederate-made replacement, as where the bar attaches to the rings being anchored under the screw-heads is very crudely cast. Could be the original British casting, and was just not finished as "pretty" as they normally would for their own Government's standards--again, Caleb Huse was DESPERATELY having sub-contractors produce and literally SLAP-TOGETHER weapons as fast as they could to ship to the Confederates waiting so desperately in the field. But again, the bar was explained as being original/period by Mr. Hicklen to the buyer when first would, and I 100% whole-heartedly believe so, as well. The only "damage" one could ever point to on this piece is sooo minute--where the hammer screw literally had half of the screw-head break-off. The screw is still 100% FIRMLY AFFIXED and fully-functional, but somewhere in it's service in the field, Johnny Reb "JWE" used a little too much forced when trying to unscrew the hammer to clean his carbine!

The last super-cool and supremely rare facet of this weapon is not just that it is a JS/Anchor, 100% no-doubt-in-the-world Confederate purchased and used weapon, but that it is of the rarely encountered JS/Anchor specimens where the marking is NOT under the stock behind the trigger-guard, but like several known, existing examples surviving today in top collector hands, the JS/Anchor marking is on TOP of the rear of the stock in front of the brass buttplate. After one of my usual, lengthy conversations of "enlightenment" with Mr. Tim Prince of College Hill Arsenal--my personal long-time friend, a true future EXPERT not only in 19th century US weapons, but European 19th Century weapons as his forte--he just sold an identical example of the JS/Anchor marking being atop the stock, in front of the brass buttplate, also with NO buttplate alpha-numeric markings, just as is with this specimen offered for sale. The piece he sold was one under consignment from a man who is currently co-authoring the eagerly-anticipated "update" regarding "Firearms From Europe" and their importation/usage in the Civil War. And there are several more documented examples exactly like this on other carbines as well as P53's. The theory is that as the war dragged-on, and the demand and time-constraints became so needful, that John Southgate just simply viewed/inspected the weapon "on the go", and wasted no more time with hand-carved, matching alpha-numeric numbering on the buttplates, ramrods, and bayonets (for rifles), and just simply stamped his approval right where his boss Caleb Huse always put his "CH/1" marking, and where you do find some of the CS Sinclair, Hamilton, & Company import markings, the "Anchor S" CS import marking, and even the script "JS" encircled CS import marking. Within the ramrod channel, you find the typical "\ III" Roman Numeral marking, as WELL AS two sub-contractor markings--one being that of "S. CLIFTON" (clearly legible) and the other "C. HAMPTON" (a couple letters slightly smudged--after all, the ramrod channel is circular, and they were using flat stamps against curved surfaces!) As Tim Prince explained, are the markings of a range of possibilities: the assembler, stock-maker, ramrod maker, etc., WHOMEVER Barnett of London had doing the work on the piece for them

WHEW! What a distinctly RARE, BEAUTIFUL, and 100% Confederate P56 Enfield Carbine THIS IS!!! Now I'll let the pictures do the talking for me!!!

Good luck finding a JS/Anchor Confederate Cavalryman's, made by BARNETT of LONDON, anywhere this nice...anywhere near this price....

Original and Complete--Right Down To Original CS Cotton Webbed and Leather-Strapped Should Sling!

I can say this much about this super-fine Richmond Rifle....you won't find one finer for sale! Or at LEAST anywhere near this price! This beauty is finally (and sadly) being let go from my good friend's collection out of Missouri. His original acquisition of this piece was through the late, great "Titan" in our dealership arena, Mr. Jay Collier of BlueGreyRelics back in 2002...and had an appraised minimum value of $17,000 BACK THEN!!! (See appraisal listed below in photo's). This weapon truly has EVERYTHING going for it--right down to the price. For those not so well known with the Confederate-manufactured Richmond Rifle, these were the finest longarms that the Confederacy ever produced themselves. And for good reason: once secession of Virginia was finalized, all of the remaining manufacturing and arsenal stock and equipment (that wasn't burnt or damaged after the John Brown Raid and Federals forced-out) of the Harpers Ferry US Arsenal was transferred to the new Capitol of the Confederacy....Richmond. Given that Harpers Ferry possessed the finest arms manufacturing equipment outside of the Springfield Armoury, this gave the Confederacy their finest manufacturing equipment to produce their finest-made rifled longarm. Though they could never produce the quantity they so hoped and desired for, they at least produced the quality they needed. In terms of collectability, the earlier the date of production of a Richmond, the more valuable and rare (outside of extremely rare 1865-dated specimens). And those with TRUE RICHMOND STOCKS combined with the early production date of 1862, also command the highest premium. That is indeed what this specimen here is. We know this with clear inspection of the milled housing for the lockplate, where there is NO SLOTTING for the M1855 Maynard Primer Lockplate firing system (see the many pictures showing and describing the difference pictorially below). It is well noted that the CS Arsenal Richmond Manufactory utilized existing captured stocks (as well as other parts) until they ran-out somewhere around mid-1862, and they had to mill their own. According to Flayderman's Guide and confirmed sources, the stocks--at least in "blank" form (unfinished) were made and shipped out of Georgia to Richmond. This piece is 100% complete, fully-functional, with VERY GOOD rifling (matching the quality on the outside, as obviously, this weapon is in FAR too good of condition to have seen any real combat service--NO BOLSTER WEAR WHATSOEVER, no chipping, no cracking, no missing pieces, no replacement pieces, etc). It's complete right down to every last screw, sling swivel, the iron Richmond-made and unmarked (as it should be) buttplate, and best of all...that GORGEOUS and RARE CS cotton-webbed and leather-strapped shoulder strap! The sling ALONE with worth a couple grand!!!! And it is as equally beautiful, original, and solid as the weapon it came with. This one is a "transitional medium-hump" specimen, coming off of the "high-hump" early specimens. Underneath the barrel (under the area of the sight) is also the classic early Richmond "t" slot that is clearly visible. The bands bear the RICHMOND "U" stampings, and the VP/Eagle barrel breech proof is legible, but feint. There is no pitting or damage to this piece whatsoever. As you can tell, the stock is absolutely, mouth-watering BEAUTIFUL, with an equally fine patina to all of the iron parts. It obviously was extremely well cared-for, and kept clean and professionally cared for to have such an appearance today. The brass nosecap has been set-back 1/4" with a period copper rivet, rather than a screw--got me as to why this was done at the manufactory or by the soldier! I have included BOTH APPRAISALS of Mr. Damon Mills AND Jay Collier, as well as some really cool historical detailed information about the production and history of the Richmond Rifle, which includes detailed schematics of the stock and stamping machinery.

As Flayderman's Guide to American Antique Firearms describes and ascribes the value to this "Type II" 1862-dated specimen,"...these also bring a permium over the more often seen styles...". Flayderman places the generic "Very Good" condition price appraisal at $25,000...and that's WITHOUT the ORIGINAL CONFEDERATE SHOULDER SLING! Need I say any more?