Bridesburg US Model 1863 Rifle Musket

American Civil War

.58 caliber. 40" barrel. NSN. Bright finish, color casehardened lock, steel furniture, walnut stock with three rounded clamping barrel bands. Single shot percussion muzzleloading military rifle musket with 1861 pattern three leaf rear sight, Barleycorn combination front sight and socket bayonet lug, screw secured sling swivels and a full-length straight shank tulip head ramrod. Lock marked with a {Spread-Winged Eagle} and U.S./BRIDESBURG forward of the hammer and dated 1864 at the tail. Breech with weak 1864 date and standard V/P/{Eagle Head} inspection marks. Counterpane with a weak, incorrect script ESA cartouche. Bridesburg marked rifle muskets were primarily produced by Alfred Jenks & Co of Bridesburg and Philadelphia, PA, although Jenks also delivered component parts to other contractors and Bridesburg marked locks are found on guns made by James T Hodge as well. Jenks received multiple rifle musket contracts, primarily for the M1861 pattern guns, but his last deliveries were of the M1863 pattern with the flat faceted hammer, flat bolster, convex screw tensioned barrel bands and straight shank ramrod typical of those guns. It is believed that all 6,000 of the guns he delivered in 1865 were of that pattern, and likely his later deliveries during 1864 as well. {ANTIQUE}

From the Lifetime Collection of Robert G. Paulsen

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Very Good. Bore very good, moderately oxidized with strong, crisp rifling. Barre lightly cleaned to bright, leaving the date weak. Lock with traces of case colors and a muted, mottled gray appearance. Markings mostly clear and legible. Mechanically functional lock. Stock very good with moderate wear, scattered bumps, dings and mars and an incorrect Springfield inspection cartouche, suggesting the stock may be a replacement. Lower sling swivel replaced.

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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

[email protected]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

[email protected]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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Bridesburg US Model 1863 Rifle Musket

American Civil War

From the Lifetime Collection of Robert G. Paulsen

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

Arms, Armor and Militaria

Bridesburg US Model 1863 Rifle Musket

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