RARE FIRST TYPE MERRILL CARBINE WITH STAPLE FRONT SIGHT

RARE FIRST TYPE MERRILL CARBINE WITH STAPLE FRONT SIGHT SN 270. Cal. 54. Very early production with 22” rnd bbl with very unusual & rare U-shaped staple front sight and a 3-leaf carbine rear sight graduated to 500 yards. It has usual breech lever markings with maker’s name & patent number on lockplate in front of hammer & serial number vertically behind hammer. It has brass furniture and is mounted in 1-pc straight grain, uncheckered American walnut stock with 2-pc patchbox on right side. This was a fairly popular carbine in Civil War with a total of over 14,000 having been manufactured & issued to a number of famous hard fighting units. No doubt this, being one of first produced, was issued and saw service throughout most of Civil War. It has the second type copper faced breech plunger which acted as a gas seal for percussion cartridge. PROVENANCE: From Bill Moore’s collection, #270, pictured in his book on Merrills, extremely rare. CONDITION: Fine. No orig finish remains with metal being a mottled gray/brown patina with some fine surface pitting and a couple of cuts on top of bbl that could be sword or knife strikes. Stock has a repaired crack in wrist, otherwise is sound with minor nicks & scratches and a couple of small gouges and retains most of a professionally restored finish. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with heavy pitting. 4-32813 JR520 (7,500-10,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2007

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
	1459	$0.00	RARE FIRST TYPE MERRILL CARBINE WITH STAPLE FRONT SIGHT SN 270. Cal. 54. Very early production with 22” rnd bbl with very unusual & rare U-shaped staple front sight and a 3-leaf carbine rear sight graduated to 500 yards. It has usual breech lever markings with maker’s name & patent number on lockplate in front of hammer & serial number vertically behind hammer. It has brass furniture and is mounted in 1-pc straight grain, uncheckered American walnut stock with 2-pc patchbox on right side. This was a fairly popular carbine in Civil War with a total of over 14,000 having been manufactured & issued to a number of famous hard fighting units. No doubt this, being one of first produced, was issued and saw service throughout most of Civil War. It has the second type copper faced breech plunger which acted as a gas seal for percussion cartridge. PROVENANCE: From Bill Moore’s collection, #270, pictured in his book on Merrills, extremely rare. CONDITION: Fine. No orig finish remains with metal being a mottled gray/brown patina with some fine surface pitting and a couple of cuts on top of bbl that could be sword or knife strikes. Stock has a repaired crack in wrist, otherwise is sound with minor nicks & scratches and a couple of small gouges and retains most of a professionally restored finish. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with heavy pitting. 4-32813 JR520 (7,500-10,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2007 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.

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