Whitneyville US Contract 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 percussion muzzleloading 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}/U.S. and WHITNEY-VILLE forward of the hammer and dated 1864 horizontally at the tail. Breech dated 1864 as well with the standard V/P/{Eagle Head} inspection marks on the left angled flat. A small W sub-inspection is present on the left breech flat and the outline of a worn and illegible cartouche is on the counterpane. The letter "J" is carved on the counterpane and the letters "JS" which were painted red at one time, are carved in the top of the stock comb. The majority of the Whitney production of long arms during the American Civil War were of his numerous "Good & Serviceable" arms which were "not subject to gauging" and were not fully interchangeable. However, he did receive two contracts from the US Government to produce fully interchangeable Model 1861 Rifle Muskets, one for 40,000 guns and one for 15,000 guns. Due to his facility being tied up producing US Model 1861 Navy Rifles ("Plymouth Rifles") and numerous state contracts, particularly for Connecticut, he did not deliver any guns under that contracts in a timely fashion. In the end the two contracts were combined and were reduced to 25,000 gun, of which Whitney delivered 15,000 between 1863 and 1865 with the bulk of the deliveries in 1864. {ANTIQUE}

From the Lifetime Collection of Robert G. Paulsen

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Good. Bore very good with strong rifling and moderate oxidation. Metal lightly cleaned with scattered minor freckles of oxidation and age discoloration. Markings in metal clear, weak in wood. Mechanically functional lock. Stock lightly sanded with scattered bumps, dings and mars, a weak cartouche and initials carved in the counterpane and stock comb.

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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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Whitneyville US Contract Model 1861 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

Whitneyville US Contract Model 1861 Rifle Musket

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