Parkers, Snow & Co Contract US Model 1861 Rifle Musket

American Civil War

.58 caliber. 40" barrel secured by three flat, spring retained bands. NSN. Bright finish, iron furniture, walnut musket stock. Single shot muzzleloading percussion rifle musket with M1861 pattern three leaf rear sight, Barleycorn combination front sight and socket bayonet lug, sling swivels and a swelled shank tulip head ramrod. Lock marked with a {Spread Winged Eagle}/US forward of the hammer and stamped in two lines: PARKERS' SNOW & CO./MERIDEN, CONN. and dated 1863 at the tail. Top of breech with matching 1863 date and the left angled flat has the standard V/P/{Eagle Head} proofs. Counterpane with two script inspector cartouches, the RPB of Robert P Beals and the CDR of Charles D Ripley. The firm of Parkers, Snow & Co delivered a total of 15,000 M1861 contract rifle muskets between 1863 and 1864, making them one of the less commonly encountered contractors. Charles Parker, who would go on to found the American shotgun company Parker Brothers in 1867, was the principal in Parkers, Snow & Co and his Civil War rifle musket contracts were his entry into the gun making field. {ANTIQUE}

From the Lifetime Collection of Robert G. Paulsen

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Very Good. Bore good to very good, moderately oxidized, some rust near the muzzle and with good rifling. Metal lightly cleaned in general, somewhat more aggressively at the breech and showing scattered surface oxidation discoloration and some light pitting. Markings remain relatively clear and crisp throughout with only the rear cartouche a little light. Mechanically functional action. Stock very good with strong edges and some scattered bumps, dings and mars.

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

Arms, Armor and Militaria

Parkers, Snow & Co Contract US Model 1861 Rifle Musket

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