1st Type Whitney Flat Lock "Direct Vent" Variant US Model 1861 Rifle Musket

American Civil War

.58 caliber. 40" barrel secured by three flat, spring-retained bands. SN: A15. Bright finish, iron furniture, pewter nose cap, full length walnut musket stock. Single shot percussion muzzleloading rifle musket with Whitney's "mid range" leaf rear sight, musket pattern combination front sight and socket bayonet lug, sling swivels and a straight shank, tulip head ramrod. Flat milled lock without beveled edges is stamped with a {Spread-Winged Eagle} over a {Panoply of Flags} over the word WHITNEYVILLE forward of the hammer and dated 1863 vertically at the tail. No date or markings on top of breech, left angled breech flat with G.W.Q Whitney inspection mark. Unmarked bolster with a very slightly convex face, essentially milled flat as well. These interesting arms were made in fairly small numbers, with surviving records indicating that only about 700 were made of both "Direct Vent" variations. Most of these guns used English made barrels that had been ordered by Colt but were found unacceptable for use on US Government contract arms as the short bolsters did not line up correctly with regulation locks. Whitney obtained the barrels and found that by milling the locks thinner with an essentially flat profile and by using a hammer with a very slightly offset neck, the barrels could be made serviceable. These guns were sold on the open market to retailer Fitch & Waldo who subsequently sold them to whoever would buy them. A scare secondary martial arm from the American Civil War. {ANTIQUE}

From the Lifetime Collection of Robert G. Paulsen

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Good. Bore good moderately oxidized with some pitting and visible rifling. Metal lightly cleaned, with the breech showing more aggressive cleaning. Metal with scattered surface oxidation, some light pitting and freckled discoloration. Markings in metal remain mostly clear. No markings noted in wood. Mechanically functional lock. Stock with wear, showing 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

timcarey@freemansauction.com 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

timprince@freemansauction.com 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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1st Type Whitney Flat Lock "Direct Vent" Variant US Model 1861 Rifle Musket

American Civil War

From the Lifetime Collection of Robert G. Paulsen

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Please email armsarmor@hindmanauctions.com for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

Arms, Armor and Militaria

1st Type Whitney Flat Lock "Direct Vent" Variant US Model 1861 Rifle Musket

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