Rare Gibbs Carbine with Early Production Lock Markings

American Civil War

.52 caliber. 22" barrel secured by a single barrel band. NSN. Blued and color casehardened finish, smooth walnut stock and forend. Single shot percussion breechloading carbine with lever actuated tilting barrel action, M1861 pattern multi-leaf rear sight, dovetailed pinched front sight, and sling bar with ring. Lock marked in two lines, WM F BROOKS/MANF'S NEW YORK with the breech marked in three lines, L.H. GIBBS/PATND/JANY 8, 1856. U.S. marked buttplate tang, sub-inspection stamp B on left of breech. No visible cartouches. The Gibbs carbine story is a long and interesting one. The design was appealing enough to the US Ordnance Department that 10,000 of the carbines were ordered, however only 1,052 were deliver. This is because the factory was destroyed by fire during the July 1863 Draft Riots in New York. The earliest production examples have locks marked as this one is, with later production guns have an American Eagle on the lock along wth the date 1863. The majority of the Gibbs carbines delivered were issued to the 10th Missouri Cavalry (about 500) with many of the remaining guns going to the 13th & 16th New York Cavalry. A very rare secondary US Civil War carbine that is not often seen for sale {ANTIQUE}

From the Lifetime Collection of Robert G. Paulsen

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Very Good. Bore very good, mostly bright with strong rifling, some frosting and scattered minor oxidation with light pitting. Barrel with no finish, having a mostly dull pewter patina with a mottled and oxidized appearance with discolored mottling from age. Markings remain clear and legible in the metal. Mechanically functional. Stock with moderate wear and lightly sanded with some added finish and showing scattered bumps, dings and mars.

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Please email armsarmor@hindmanauctions.com for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

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October 17, 20, 21, or by appointment. Please contact the Auction Specialist for details.

Mr. Tim Carey

Associate Vice President, Head of Department, Arms, Armor and Militaria

timcarey@freemansauction.com 513.666.4984

Mr. Carey joined Cowan’s, a Freeman's company, in 2021 and is a 40-year veteran of the sporting arms and outdoor recreation industry. Carey joined Cowan’s from Griffin & Howe at Hudson Farms in Andover, N.J., where he was responsible for the acquisition, appraisal, and consignment of top-tier firearms consignments from important makers such as James Purdey & Sons of London, Beretta, Caesar Guerini, B. Rizzini, Bertuzzi, Renato Telo, and Anderson Wheeler.

Mr. Tim Prince

Senior Consulting Specialist, Arms, Armor & Militaria

timprince@freemansauction.com 312 280 1212

Tim Prince has more than 30-years of experience in the field of antique and collectible arms and is a nationally recognized expert in the area of Civil War small arms. A long-time researcher and author, Tim has been a contributing author to two major books about Civil War firearms, including The English Connection: Arms, Material and Support Furnished to the Confederate States of America by Great Britain (2014) and Confederate Shotguns and Southern Agent Marked Shotguns (2017). He was also a major contributor to the recently updated Blue Book of Antique American Firearms & Values – 2nd Edition (2019) as well as the 2010 updates to the Civil War Collector's Price Guide - 12th edition. Over the last decade Tim has authored more than 50 articles on 19th century collectible and military arms, which have been published in such varied publications as Civil War News, North-South Trader, and Military Antique Collector. Since 2016 has appeared as a featured appraiser in the field of Arms & Militaria on the popular PBS television series Antiques Roadshow. He is a member of the American Society of Arms Collectors and currently serves on the board of directors of that organization. He is also a member of and formerly served on the board of directors of the Society of American Bayonet Collectors. Tim is a life member of the Ohio Valley Military Society, the Tennessee Military Collectors Association, the Alabama Military Collectors Association, is a member of the Company of Military Historians and is a member of numerous other colleting groups and societies. He is the owner of College Hill Arsenal, a web based antique and collectible arms retail web site, specializing in the American Civil War and related military items. Tim has engaged in the business of buying, selling, researching, and appraising antique and collectible arms and associated military items for some three decades. Since 2016 he has also served as a senior Consulting Specialist in the field of Arms, Armor & Militaria for Cowan’s Auctions, a Freeman's Company.

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Rare Gibbs Carbine with Early Production Lock Markings

American Civil War

From the Lifetime Collection of Robert G. Paulsen

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Please email armsarmor@hindmanauctions.com for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

Arms, Armor and Militaria

Rare Gibbs Carbine with Early Production Lock Markings

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