1st 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: A10. Bright finish, iron furniture, pewter forehead cap, walnut stock. Single shot muzzleloading percussion rifle musket with Whitney "midrange" rear sight, Barleycorn combination front sight and socket bayonet lug, sling swirls and a brass tipped, steel shank Whitney variant ramrod. Lock with large Whitney {Eagle, Flag & Panoply of Arms} motif 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 "serial number" A/10 on top, about 1.5" behind the front sight. No inspection marks in wood, as is typical. Pewter stock cap cast onto stock tip. Flat bands with "U" markings, as is sometimes found on these guns. No "US" on buttplate as is correct. 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 early Whitney "Mid-Range" pattern with pierced L-shaped leaf, shorter base height and lower rear wall around the pivot screw. Full length Whitney steel shank ramrod with good threads and brass tulip shaped head that was not popular with the Connecticut Adjutant General, who specifically requested all steel rods on subsequent deliveries. A fine condition example of a scarce 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. {ANTIQUE}

From the Lifetime Collection of Robert G. Paulsen

Fine. Very good bore with strong rifling and scattered oxidation. Metal with a lightly cleaned medium steel patina and showing some lightly scattered surface oxidation and discoloration. Markings remain clear. Mechanically functional action. Stock fine and crisp with scattered bumps, dings and mars.

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

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.

Arms, Armor and Militaria

1st Connecticut Contract US Model 1861 Rifle Musket by Whitney

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