VERY RARE EARLY MERRILL SADDLE RING CARBINE WITH STAPLE FRONT SIGHT.

VERY RARE EARLY MERRILL SADDLE RING CARBINE WITH STAPLE FRONT SIGHT. SN 228. Cal. 54. Standard early Merrill carbine with 22-1/8″ rnd bbl, the rare staple front sight and a 3-leaf carbine rear sight. Mounted in an uncheckered straight grain walnut stock with short forearm and a sgl flat brass band retained with a screw in the bottom. Action area of the stock has raised side panels with a sling bar & ring in the left side. Buttstock is mounted with a 2-pc brass patchbox and a brass carbine buttplate. Trigger guard is also of brass made in two pieces. Lockplate is early type, flat with beveled edges. The Merrill carbine is unique, being breech loading by means of a top lever secured into the rear sight base by means of a knurled edged latch. Releasing the latch allows the lever, which is hinged in the top tang, to be raised & drawn to the rear which withdraws the copper faced breech plug, which allows for a paper cartridge to be inserted. The breech is then closed and the nipple is then capped and firing proceeds. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms only about 14,495 of these scarce carbines were produced in the early 1860s in two types, mostly on military contract; they are rare today with high orig condition. CONDITION: Very fine, all visible parts matching numbered. Bbl retains strong blue under a coating of old dried oil with mottled finish on the forward portion of the bbl. Staple front sight is completely intact. Lockplate & hammer retain strong case colors mixed with spots of light surface rust. Receiver, top lever, breech block, etc. retain dark case colors mixed with mottled brown spotting. Brass is sound with sharp edges retaining a dark mustard patina. Stock has a chip from the left end of the forestock and a series of small gouges on wrist & heel with two bruises on bottom, with sharp crisp side panels & retains most of its fine orig oil finish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore with a few scattered spots of light pitting. 4-42021 (10,000-15,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 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
	2422	$9,775.00	VERY RARE EARLY MERRILL SADDLE RING CARBINE WITH STAPLE FRONT SIGHT. SN 228. Cal. 54. Standard early Merrill carbine with 22-1/8″ rnd bbl, the rare staple front sight and a 3-leaf carbine rear sight. Mounted in an uncheckered straight grain walnut stock with short forearm and a sgl flat brass band retained with a screw in the bottom. Action area of the stock has raised side panels with a sling bar & ring in the left side. Buttstock is mounted with a 2-pc brass patchbox and a brass carbine buttplate. Trigger guard is also of brass made in two pieces. Lockplate is early type, flat with beveled edges. The Merrill carbine is unique, being breech loading by means of a top lever secured into the rear sight base by means of a knurled edged latch. Releasing the latch allows the lever, which is hinged in the top tang, to be raised & drawn to the rear which withdraws the copper faced breech plug, which allows for a paper cartridge to be inserted. The breech is then closed and the nipple is then capped and firing proceeds. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms only about 14,495 of these scarce carbines were produced in the early 1860s in two types, mostly on military contract; they are rare today with high orig condition. CONDITION: Very fine, all visible parts matching numbered. Bbl retains strong blue under a coating of old dried oil with mottled finish on the forward portion of the bbl. Staple front sight is completely intact. Lockplate & hammer retain strong case colors mixed with spots of light surface rust. Receiver, top lever, breech block, etc. retain dark case colors mixed with mottled brown spotting. Brass is sound with sharp edges retaining a dark mustard patina. Stock has a chip from the left end of the forestock and a series of small gouges on wrist & heel with two bruises on bottom, with sharp crisp side panels & retains most of its fine orig oil finish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore with a few scattered spots of light pitting. 4-42021 (10,000-15,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 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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