Fine US Springfield Model 1863 Rifle Musket With Post Civil War Whitney Retailer Mark

American Civil War

.58 caliber. 40" round barrel secured by three rounded screw-clamping barrel bands. NSN. Bright finish, color casehardened lock and hammer, blued rear sight, iron furniture, walnut stock. Single shot percussion muzzleloading rifle musket with M1861 pattern 3 leaf rear sight, Barleycorn combination front sight and socket bayonet lug, sling swivels and straight shank tulip head ramrod. Lock marked with a {Spread-Winged Eagle}/U.S. forward of the hammer and in two horizontal lines U.S./SPRINGFIELD and dated 1863 at the tail. Breech of barrel dated 1863 as well. Upper left breech with typical V/ P/{Eagle Head} inspection marks. Counterpane of stock with two inspection cartouches, the first the script HSH of Springfield Arsenal sub-inspector Henry S Hill and the second a clear script ESA of Springfield's Master Armorer Erskine S Allin. Obverse stock with {Spread-Winged Eagle} over Whitney Arms Co. In 1867 Whitney sold 6,943 US Springfield Model 1863 Rifle Muskets that he had acquired as surplus after the war. These guns were stamped with the Whitney Arms Co logo on the stock and typically had their barrels and furniture blued. Likely many of these guns ended up seeing service during the Franco-Prussian War. A very nice example of a completely correct US Model 1863 Rifle Musket that was then resold after the war by Eli Whitney Jr. {ANTIQUE}

From the Lifetime Collection of Robert G. Paulsen

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Fine. Bore fine and bright with strong rifling and some lightly scattered oxidation. Metal with a lightly cleaned steel gray patina with some very scattered light oxidation and discoloration. Metal with a few areas of very minor pinpricking. Markings remain clear and sharp. Mechanically functional lock with most of the dulling and faded case colors present. Stock fine with strong edges and lines, showing scattered bumps, dings and mars and retaining some feathery texture.

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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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Fine US Springfield Model 1863 Rifle Musket With Post Civil War Whitney Retailer Mark

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

Fine US Springfield Model 1863 Rifle Musket With Post Civil War Whitney Retailer Mark

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