Manton Marked Variant US Model 1861 Contract Rifle Musket by Whitney

American Civil War

.58 caliber. 40" barrel secured by three flat, spring retained bands. SN: V32. Bright finish, iron furniture, walnut musket stock. Single shot muzzleloading percussion rifle musket with Whitney mid-range leaf rear sight, Barleycorn combination front sight and socket bayonet lug, sling swivels and a straight shank tulip head ramrod. Lock marked in Gothic letters MANTON forward of the hammer and dated 1862 at the tail. Top of breech with V/P/{Six-Pointed Star} proofs. Left angled breech flat with G.W.Q inspection mark. Barrel serial numbered V/32 behind the front sight. No cartouches on counterpane as it typical. These "Good & Serviceable" muskets produced by Whitney were of inconsistent enough quality that Whitney did not want his own name placed on them, or for anyone to know that they were a Whitney product. Less than 2,000 were produced with the bulk being sold to Fitch & Waldo of New York, who subsequently resold them. Most used English made barrels that were acquired from Colt after Colt found out they would not be accepted for US Ordnance contract musket deliveries. As this one has "U" marked barrel bands and a G.W.Q barrel inspection, it may have started life as a Connecticut contract rifle musket that was rejected and then was repurposed as a "Manton". Other similarly marked examples are known. A scarce and interesting part of the story of Whitney's Civil War arms production and an uncommon rifle musket to find for sale. {ANTIQUE}

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Good. Bore fine and bright with strong rifling and some scattered oxidation. Metal moderately oxidized with a mottled salt and pepper patina and scattered light pitting, more moderate at the breech. Mechanically functional lock. Stock sanded with rounded edges and showing moderate wear with numerous 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 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.

Mr. Tim Carey

Associate Vice President, Head of Department, Arms, Armor and Militaria

[email protected]312 280 1212

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Manton Marked Variant US Model 1861 Contract Rifle Musket by Whitney

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