RARE CONFEDERATE TALLASSEE CARBINE.

RARE CONFEDERATE TALLASSEE CARBINE. SN 81. This is among the rarest of all Confederate arms. Outside of museums, including the Virginia Historical Society, Columbus Museum of Art, Greensboro Historical Museum, Atlanta History Center, Confederate Memorial Park in Marlboro, Alabama and the Smithsonian, this is the only example we can find. In our research we have found where a couple loose Tallassee marked locks have occurred, one being mounted in an Enfield carbine as part of the Claude Fuller collection, now part of the National Park Service at Chickamauga, Georgia. This gun is orig and correct in every regard, properly SN “81” on stock, bbl and breech. SN size and placement is unique to this very rare maker and identical to studied institutional guns, including a crude “X” cut into channel identical to institutional examples studied. This gun is in “as found” condition. This carbine was adopted late in 1864 as the official carbine for the Confederate States Mounted Forces. It was designed along the lines of the British Enfield pattern 1853 carbine. There is a detailed history of the ill fated carbine production at Tallassee in John Murphy’s and Howard Madus’ text “Confederate Carbines and Musketoons”. According to varying reports, about 500 carbines were potentially made early in 1865. According to report in Murphy’s book, most all completed carbines, parts and machinery were destroyed by Union raiders. This particular arm utilizes an English made “Barnett” marked lock, which no doubt has been with this gun for a very long time, most probably from its time of use during the Civil War. The color of the lock internally and externally, along with the rest of the gun, lends credence to this fact. There have been at least two Tallassee marked lockplates sold in market in past years. This is not a SN part and could be an appropriate addition to this gun. All dimensions and configurations including placement of rear sling swivel (which is missing and mortise filled with lead), two-leaf adjustable Richmond style rear sight, brass clamping bands, brass nosecap, brass buttplate and trigger guard are all unique characteristics of this maker. There is a reddish tint to the hardware, distinctive to Confederate manufacture. The 58 caliber bbl, which measures 25″ long, was orig finished in the bright and is rifled with 3 broad shallow lands and grooves. This is the first Tallassee known to ever come to auction. The last recorded sale for a gun not this complete, however it did have Tallassee marked lock, sold for well over $100,000 in private sale to a museum. CONDITION: Gun is good overall. Bbl and lock are brown and dark overall with pitting and rust. Protected areas under bands and under bbl still show areas of orig bright finish with rust, staining and pitting. SN are all discernible, as can be seen in photos. Ramrod is original, though it is missing swivel stirrup and tip. Front sling swivel is missing as is rear swivel. Brass screw escutcheons for lock are both missing. Rear sight face is intact but leaves are missing. Rifle bore is rusted but rifling is distinct and discernible. Stock is sound and solid with several cracks opposite lock, as can be seen in photos. One more recent crack extends on bottom of stock below breech, though stock is still sound and solid. There is also wood reduction behind lock, a large sliver about 1-3/4″ x 3/4″ can be seen missing behind tang to behind lockplate. There were a set of contemporary initials carved in stock opposite lock, though they appear to have been obliterated during guns time of use, as can be seen in photos. 4-46376 JS51 (20,000-30,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2080	$17,250.00	RARE CONFEDERATE TALLASSEE CARBINE. SN 81. This is among the rarest of all Confederate arms. Outside of museums, including the Virginia Historical Society, Columbus Museum of Art, Greensboro Historical Museum, Atlanta History Center, Confederate Memorial Park in Marlboro, Alabama and the Smithsonian, this is the only example we can find. In our research we have found where a couple loose Tallassee marked locks have occurred, one being mounted in an Enfield carbine as part of the Claude Fuller collection, now part of the National Park Service at Chickamauga, Georgia. This gun is orig and correct in every regard, properly SN “81” on stock, bbl and breech. SN size and placement is unique to this very rare maker and identical to studied institutional guns, including a crude “X” cut into channel identical to institutional examples studied. This gun is in “as found” condition. This carbine was adopted late in 1864 as the official carbine for the Confederate States Mounted Forces. It was designed along the lines of the British Enfield pattern 1853 carbine. There is a detailed history of the ill fated carbine production at Tallassee in John Murphy’s and Howard Madus’ text “Confederate Carbines and Musketoons”. According to varying reports, about 500 carbines were potentially made early in 1865. According to report in Murphy’s book, most all completed carbines, parts and machinery were destroyed by Union raiders. This particular arm utilizes an English made “Barnett” marked lock, which no doubt has been with this gun for a very long time, most probably from its time of use during the Civil War. The color of the lock internally and externally, along with the rest of the gun, lends credence to this fact. There have been at least two Tallassee marked lockplates sold in market in past years. This is not a SN part and could be an appropriate addition to this gun. All dimensions and configurations including placement of rear sling swivel (which is missing and mortise filled with lead), two-leaf adjustable Richmond style rear sight, brass clamping bands, brass nosecap, brass buttplate and trigger guard are all unique characteristics of this maker. There is a reddish tint to the hardware, distinctive to Confederate manufacture. The 58 caliber bbl, which measures 25″ long, was orig finished in the bright and is rifled with 3 broad shallow lands and grooves. This is the first Tallassee known to ever come to auction. The last recorded sale for a gun not this complete, however it did have Tallassee marked lock, sold for well over $100,000 in private sale to a museum. CONDITION: Gun is good overall. Bbl and lock are brown and dark overall with pitting and rust. Protected areas under bands and under bbl still show areas of orig bright finish with rust, staining and pitting. SN are all discernible, as can be seen in photos. Ramrod is original, though it is missing swivel stirrup and tip. Front sling swivel is missing as is rear swivel. Brass screw escutcheons for lock are both missing. Rear sight face is intact but leaves are missing. Rifle bore is rusted but rifling is distinct and discernible. Stock is sound and solid with several cracks opposite lock, as can be seen in photos. One more recent crack extends on bottom of stock below breech, though stock is still sound and solid. There is also wood reduction behind lock, a large sliver about 1-3/4″ x 3/4″ can be seen missing behind tang to behind lockplate. There were a set of contemporary initials carved in stock opposite lock, though they appear to have been obliterated during guns time of use, as can be seen in photos. 4-46376 JS51 (20,000-30,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

.red{fill:#B50938;} .white{fill:#FFFFFF;} .blue{fill:#005596;}