Extra Nice Burnside Saddle Ring Carbine

20-11-01    Extra Nice Burnside Saddle Ring Carbine.  A much nicer than average 5th Model Burnside carbine.  Very strong condition, approaching NRA “Fine” condition.  100% original, 100% complete, mechanically perfect, all matching, and an excellent bore.  The receiver has generous traces of   factory case hardened color turning silvery plum.  Interior of breech       block has much original blue and case color.  The balance of the steel is a very attractive plum patina being the result of oxidizing of the blue finish.  The inspector’s cartouche on the left side of the wrist is not only visible it is crisply legible. Very sharp.  All  markings on the steel are likewise crisp.     The receiver is marked BURNSIDE’S PATENT  /  MODEL OF 1864.  The  barrel is stamped Cast Steel 1864.  The block and frame are both           numbered 13749. The wood is a lovely reddish orange tone of                   walnut with good strong edges and showing no mishandling,   only honest age and expected wear.  This is nicer than 80% of the Burnside             carbines we encounter at the shows and auctions.  A very fair buy at $1,575.00   SOLD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Large Size 1860 Pocket Book / Wallet / Possibles Purse

 

20-11-02   I see the small size Civil War metal bound change purses quite regularly, but this is the first LARGE size example I recall owning.  Classic 1860 example with an embossed leather front and back with a sturdy metal frame around the edges.  Very much like the metal bound 1850s ambrotype and daguerreotype cases. The interior is an accordion affair with numerous partitioned compartments for currency, stamps, photos, etc…   The closing latch is a folded metal device, hinged at one end,  that grabs both sides of the metal frame and secures them together when the latch is engaged.  Excellent condition, and a darn nice personal item of the 1860s.  $135.00  SOLD

 

 

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Wonderful “As Found Condition” Confederate Short Sword Richmond Va.

 

The armed soldier image is for illustration purposes… It is not available for purchase.

 

20-11-03   Boyle, Gamble, and McFee Richmond, Virginia Confederate artillery short sword.  One of the rarest CSA short swords for a collector to find, and complete with its’ original BG&M scabbard.  Years ago we did not know who made these, then one turned up stamped with the Boyle & Gamble markings and wound up in Don Tharpe’s collection which he displayed in Richmond twenty + years ago.  To my knowledge that is the only one so marked, and I recall the stamping as being quite small.   I have seen another inscribed by a Yankee soldier in the 17th Army Corps.  Overall excellent condition lacking only the brass stud on the top mount for securing to a belt frog.  I see that Wallace Markert (CSA Acquisitions) has a very nice example offered on his web page this week at $4,800.00.   I will sell this one for $3,800.00   SOLD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Long Barrel M1849 Colt .31 Caliber Pocket Model Revolver

 

20-11-04   Very crisp Colt Pocket Revolver with desirable, long, 6 inch barrel.  All matching serial numbers.  100% original, 100% complete, and mechanically perfect.  This one cocks and indexes perfectly and very smoothly.   This gun shows light cleaning and polishing.  Edges are sharp.  Cylinder scene is 50%.  6 shot cylinder.  Barrel legend is the one line New York address.  Grips are super.  The end of the loading lever has a well executed brazed repair that is nearly invisible.  Colt produced more of these than any other model during the 1800s.  These were carried by thousands of Union Army officers and soldiers during the Civil War.  And the Gold Fields of California were populated by thousands of 49ers carrying these handy yet deadly Colt revolvers.   $875.00    SOLD

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Outdoor Tintype Hardened Yank Cavalry Trooper

 

 

20-11-05   A striking sixth plate tintype, from life, of a very lean and hard looking Union Army Horse Soldier sporting some pretty cool chin whiskers.  A slouch hat protects his head, and looking closely reveals crossed sabers insignia.  He wears a western style short jacket, well worn cavalry boots, and his McClellan pattern saddle bags are plainly visible.  This guy has been in the saddle quite a while.  Image has very good clarity and contrast.  There are some age spots but no flakes or flaking.  The photographer delicately tinted the shrubbery with a gentle green wash.  The horse’s nose is partly obscured by the bush.  This image first hit the collector market decades ago in Michigan.  My Gt Gt Grandfather served in the 2nd Michigan Cavalry and his guys looked like this guy.  True Westerners of 1863.  Housed in a mat, frame, and glass.  No Case.   $950.00

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Near Mint M1858 US Army “Hardee Hat”

 

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20-11-06   MINTY CAVALRY HARDEE HAT   Near mint Hardee hat and cavalry to boot. Even 60+ years ago when these came out of surplus in new condition it was tough to keep them that way.  Collectors handled them, changed insignias to suit their fancy, and crunched and crushed them to resemble slouch hats. This one was not mistreated in any fashion.  It does not show stains or the typical caving in of the sides and tears in the brim from careless handling. You will have to look long and hard to find another this good.

Derived from the hats adopted by the Army in 1855 for the new cavalry regiments, the pattern was adopted as the dress hat for the entire army in 1858. They are extremely showy, with the brim rakishly turned up on one side with a brass side plate bearing the arms of the United States (the familiar eagle with arrows and olive branch, scrolling ribbon, etc.,) a black plume, hat cord colored for the appropriate branch of service, and brass branch insignia on the front. Many soldiers found them awkward. Western troops liked them for broad brim and as a cheap slouch hat. For mounted troops they added the appearance of a cavalier.

This one has good color, no stains, discoloration, or tears. The crown is stiff, as it should be. The tall maroon leather sweatband shows a few loose threads, but is completely intact and shows no damage. The black oilcloth liner on the inside of the top is fully legible: “U.S. ARMY / [eagle]  / EXTRA MANUFACTURE / 2 / No.4.” The original cavalry hat cord is in place and has good color. The side plate and crossed sabers are correct, but reproductions. The sabers have small holes at the tips to sew them, but are mounted with two wires, as is the side plate. A black ostrich plume is in place, but age unknown. I have left the brass insignia on it as it came in and the next owner can decide whether to use original brass, change the branch of service or maybe just show it as a near mint example looking like it did when handed out by an army quartermaster.

 

This displays like gang busters and is a key piece in a cavalry collection, not to mention exceedingly rare in mint condition at this advanced age.  $4,250.00

 

 

 

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 “Indian” Native American, Union Army Soldier in Uniform

20-11-07   A fine crisp full standing pose CDV photo of a Union Army soldier clearly of Native American descent… likely Iroquois based on the Peekskill, NY photographer’s stamp on the back.  The stripe on the outside of his trouser legs shows he carried the rank of corporal, or that he was wearing the corporal’s pants.  The frock coat is non-regulation and void of chevrons. The forage cap appears to be of higher quality commercial manufacture than standard Govt caps.    Thousands of Indians served in the Union army and several hundred served with the Confederates.  Researching Peekskill records and photos might shed some light.  Excellent condition in all areas…  $125.00   SOLD

 

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Excellent 1860 Copper and Brass Powder Flask

20-11-08   Excellent and complete large size flask for gun powder, same size as the military issue flasks.  Perfect to display with a Confederate cavalry collection next to a double barrel shotgun.  Priced way under the money  $89.00 SOLD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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2 Line Hartford Address 6 Inch 5 Shot 1849 Colt Pocket Revolver

20-11-09   Here is one scarce and desirable old Colt.  I purchased this last week from the Great Grandaughter of the original owner in an odd sequence of events.   I was sitting in the driveway of my shop in a new car reading the owner’s manual trying to figure out the most basic of functions.  A Police car pulled in behind me and I figured one of the boys in blue wanted to check out who was sitting aimlessly in this strange car which he didn’t recognize,  especially since the owner’s usual car was not present and the strange car had been running for fifteen minutes without moving.  He walked up to my window and I recognized him as one of the good-guys and we exchanged first name greetings. He commented on the new wheels and  I asked him what brought him by and he handed me this holstered Colt and an explanation.  A very nice white haired widow lady had brought this into the Police Station to surrender it and get it out of her house.  My cop friend told her that it was not just a gun, but rather a collectible antique.  She told him he could have it and sell it.  He told her No, he could not do that but he would show it to me.  I told him what it was and asked that he present the lady with my offer to purchase it.  He did so, and a few days later she came to visit and sold me the gun.  She was tickled to have the tidy four digit sum.  The gun was a family heirloom and likely belonged to J. Havard Downing, son of Richard I Downing, both of Downingtown, Penna.  She related that they sold horses to the Army but did not fight in the Civil War as they were Quakers or some such.

 

The gun is a very handsome ’49 Pocket with ultra desirable 2-Linc Hartford address on the barrel legend.  It has a five shot cylinder, desirable long six inch barrel, and generous traces of blue finish on the barrel,  generous amounts of faded case color on the rammer and frame, virtually all of the roll engraved stagecoach holdup scene on the cylinder, original varnish on the grips, and vestiges of silver plating on the brass.  100% original,  100% complete, mechanically perfect, and 100% matched serial numbers 181,232.  The rammer is not numbered which is correct and proper for this model Colt in this serial range.

Near “fine” condition and comes with the original flap holster which needs a little TLC. 

Great Hartford Colt.  $1,750.00   SOLD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Complete & Full Length Confederate Richmond Virginia Pike

 

20-11-10   This is the classic Richmond style pike with a double-edged spearpoint blade about 12 inches long with a median ridge and spear-shaped ricasso,   Some are known marked “Richmond, VA” but most are unmarked as is this one.  Measures roughly nine feet in length,  The blade is secured on the shaft by a riveted brass ferrule about 1 7/8 inches long with a flat round top forming a perfunctory guard that is typical of Richmond pikes. Extending down the shaft from the ferrule for 18 inches are two steel langets, fastened by screws.

This is in excellent condition. The blade is smooth rust-brown metal with good edges and point.  The shaft is full length, solid, and without cracks or splits, it still has its 7 ½ inch iron butt cap, which is often missing.

Pikes were made across the south, most were made in Richmond and at The Georgia Arsenal.  This one is classic Richmond 100%.  It is an impressive Confederate weapon that exudes Confederate ingenuity, Southern simplicity, and Confederate dire need. Though these “spears” seem archaic even by 1860s standards, consider this…  The musket fired only once and was then useless in a close quarters brawl other than as a club.  Consequently the soldier in a tight spot had to use his bayonet to combat the attacking foe.  Compared to a bayonet on a musket, these nine foot pikes were far superior in terms of reach and deadliness of blade.   They were intended to arm reserve infantry in the event of a bayonet charge by the Yankees.    I see my good friends at the Horse Soldier sold one for $2,250.00 on their web page.  I will take $1,450.00    SOLD

 

 

 

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3rd Model Burnside Carbine

 

20-11-11  Here is a rare, original, 3rd Model Civil War Burnside cavalry carbine in very good plus condition that was produced by the Burnside Rifle Co of Providence, Rhode Island. The 3rd model was the first Burnside with a forend.  The 3rd model looks like the later 4th and 5th model carbines but differs as it retains the solid, unhinged (pivoting) breechblock found on the 2nd model.  Only 1,520 guns of this model were produced… just a fraction the number of 4th and 5th models.  

It is standard .54 caliber manufactured by the company during 1862 and 1863 and employed the distinctive tapered cartridge. The frame is numbered 3397 the block is numbered 2685.  Also marked on the frame “BURNSIDE PATENT. / MARCH 25TH 1856.”   Lockplate clearly retains the maker’s marks “BURNSIDE RIFLE Co. / PROVIDENCE R. I.” Lock markings are strong and clear.

100% original 100% complete and mechanically perfect. Good bore. Dark walnut stock is original and in very good condition; no cartouche visible. A very good, seldom seen 3rd Model Burnside to compliment any cavalry collection.  $1,595.00  SOLD