Connecticut Contract US Model 1861 Rifle Musket by Whitney

American Civil War

.58 caliber. 40" round barrel secured by three flat, spring-retained bands. SN: E32. Bright finish, iron furniture, including nose cap, walnut stock. Single shot muzzleloading percussion rifle musket with M1861 pattern three leaf rear sight, Barleycorn front sight and socket bayonet lug, sling swivels and a straight shank tulip head ramrod. Lock with large Whitney {Eagle, Flag & Panoply of Arms} motif over the words WHITNEY-VILLE, as found on many of his Model 1861 Navy contract rifle muskets, not dated at the rear. Barrel unmarked as is often the case on these guns, with the exception of the weak "serial number" E/32 on top, about 1.5" behind the front sight. This exact serial number is referenced in Moller's American Military Shoulder Arms Volume III in the section discussing these guns, suggesting that he either owned the gun at one time or had previously surveyed it for research purposes. No inspection marks in wood, as is typical. Flat bands with "U" markings, as is sometimes found on these guns, no "US" on butt plate tang which is typical. Bore rifled with Whitney's 7-groove pattern which is typical of many of his "Good & Serviceable" arms, and common on the earlier Connecticut contract rifle muskets. Rear sight of the M1861 pattern with three leaves, which is atypical for these guns, as is the iron forend tip. A well used but fairly scarce example of a Connecticut Contract Whitney Model 1861 Variant Rifle Musket that is a good example of the many liberties Whitney took when producing arms for state, rather than Federal contracts. Whitney delivered 8,000 of his variant M1861 Rifle Muskets to Connecticut under various contracts. {ANTIQUE}

From the Lifetime Collection of Robert G. Paulsen

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Good. Bore good, deeply rifled with moderate oxidation and some scattered pitting. Metal lightly cleaned with scattered pinpricking and a salt and pepper appearance in the metal. Markings in metal remain legible. No markings in wood. Mechanically functional action. Stock with moderate to heavy wear and numerous bumps, dings, mars and dents and a small chip out of the upper edge of the forend on the reverse, as well as some splintered loss in the ramrod channel. A small chip is missing behind the breech plug tang and a tiny chip is present on the upper edge of the counterpane.

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

Mr. Tim Carey

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[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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Connecticut Contract US Model 1861 Rifle Musket by Whitney

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

Connecticut Contract US Model 1861 Rifle Musket by Whitney

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