VERY RARE SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1855 CAVALRY CARBINE.

VERY RARE SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1855 CAVALRY CARBINE. SN NSN. Cal. 54. Fine rare carbine with 22″ rifled rnd bbl, half moon carbine front sight and 3-leaf flip rear sight graduated 150-350-450 yards. Top rear end of bbl is marked with the small “V”, “P” and eagle head proofs. Lockplate has a small American eagle over a tiny “US” in front of hammer with “SPRING / FIELD / 1855” vertically behind the hammer. The date “1855” is also stamped on the top tang. Mounted in a 1-pc walnut stock with long wrist and about 3/4 length with brass nosecap and iron furniture. Bottom of bbl at the muzzle has integral large ring to which is attached a large wire loop containing a captive button-head ramrod. Sideplate is J-shaped and it has two visible cartouches. Trigger guard is 2-pc with a large round cavalry sling ring in the rear. Buttplate is smooth carbine style with “US” on the tang. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms only 1,020 of these rare carbines were produced in the period 1855-1856. There were also two additional samples and four test carbines produced for a total of 1,026. This model of carbine is the only variant of the 1855 martial arms produced for manual priming instead of the Maynard tape priming system found on all others. These carbines were in use on the frontier primarily in Texas and New Mexico for only a short period of time until about 1860 when they were exchanged for cartridge carbines. Several of them were sold on the civilian market with at least 100 purchased by the State of Georgia and the majority of the remaining 1855 carbines were captured by the Confederacy when they captured the San Antonio Arsenal. In 1856 Lt. Col. Robert E. Lee was assigned to Camp Cooper, Texas, in command of two squadrons (8 companies) of cavalry whose assigned duty it was to control the Indians on the frontier. Lt. Col. Lee’s troops were issued both Springfield carbines and Springfield musketoons and in June 1856 he led four squadrons of cavalry, armed as noted above, on a 40-day, 1,600 mile campaign against the Indians. At the outset of the Civil War the 3rd Texas Cavalry was partially armed with Model 1855 Springfield carbines and on Aug. 10, 1861 participated in the Battle of Wilson’s Creek. The Springfield Model 1855 carbine is one of the most rare of all Springfields and almost never encountered in condition. CONDITION: Good to very good. Appears to be complete & functional with all orig parts. Metal retains a mottled artificially aged patina with fine pitting around the nipple area and on the lockplate. Stock has a hairline back of the lockplate, otherwise is sound showing moderate to heavy wear and retains most of an old refinish. Mechanics are fine, strong dark bore. 4-41510 JR190 (10,000-15,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011

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
	2365	$0.00	VERY RARE SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1855 CAVALRY CARBINE. SN NSN. Cal. 54. Fine rare carbine with 22″ rifled rnd bbl, half moon carbine front sight and 3-leaf flip rear sight graduated 150-350-450 yards. Top rear end of bbl is marked with the small “V”, “P” and eagle head proofs. Lockplate has a small American eagle over a tiny “US” in front of hammer with “SPRING / FIELD / 1855” vertically behind the hammer. The date “1855” is also stamped on the top tang. Mounted in a 1-pc walnut stock with long wrist and about 3/4 length with brass nosecap and iron furniture. Bottom of bbl at the muzzle has integral large ring to which is attached a large wire loop containing a captive button-head ramrod. Sideplate is J-shaped and it has two visible cartouches. Trigger guard is 2-pc with a large round cavalry sling ring in the rear. Buttplate is smooth carbine style with “US” on the tang. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms only 1,020 of these rare carbines were produced in the period 1855-1856. There were also two additional samples and four test carbines produced for a total of 1,026. This model of carbine is the only variant of the 1855 martial arms produced for manual priming instead of the Maynard tape priming system found on all others. These carbines were in use on the frontier primarily in Texas and New Mexico for only a short period of time until about 1860 when they were exchanged for cartridge carbines. Several of them were sold on the civilian market with at least 100 purchased by the State of Georgia and the majority of the remaining 1855 carbines were captured by the Confederacy when they captured the San Antonio Arsenal. In 1856 Lt. Col. Robert E. Lee was assigned to Camp Cooper, Texas, in command of two squadrons (8 companies) of cavalry whose assigned duty it was to control the Indians on the frontier. Lt. Col. Lee’s troops were issued both Springfield carbines and Springfield musketoons and in June 1856 he led four squadrons of cavalry, armed as noted above, on a 40-day, 1,600 mile campaign against the Indians. At the outset of the Civil War the 3rd Texas Cavalry was partially armed with Model 1855 Springfield carbines and on Aug. 10, 1861 participated in the Battle of Wilson’s Creek. The Springfield Model 1855 carbine is one of the most rare of all Springfields and almost never encountered in condition. CONDITION: Good to very good. Appears to be complete & functional with all orig parts. Metal retains a mottled artificially aged patina with fine pitting around the nipple area and on the lockplate. Stock has a hairline back of the lockplate, otherwise is sound showing moderate to heavy wear and retains most of an old refinish. Mechanics are fine, strong dark bore. 4-41510 JR190 (10,000-15,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011 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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