CIVIL WAR ERA SMITH'S PATENT CAVALRY CARBINE;.50 CALIBER; AMERICAN MACHINE WORKS:>THAN 150 YEARS AGO

FOR THE COLLECTOR WHO WANTS THE EXCEPTIONAL......we offer you a rare and important, Civil War era, martially inspected, complete and original Smith’s Patent Carbine in a truly extraordinary condition. This Smith’s Patent Carbine carries a three digit serial number and receiver stampings that reflect an early birth at the American Machine Works factory in Springfield, Massachusetts. The Smith’s Patent Carbine, as a single shot, breech loading, percussion .50 caliber, was one of the most important Federal Cavalry carbines of the Civil War. Production of these carbines was almost entirely consumed by government contracts. A total of approximately 30,362 Smith Carbines were purchased by the United States during the Civil War. The left side of the receiver is marked with the standard address and patent dates: on the forward portion of the receiver, stamped horizontally, is "MANUFACTURED BY / AM' N M'CH'N WKS / SPRINGFIELD MASS", on rearward portion of the receiver above the saddle ring bar, stamped horizontally, is "ADDRESS / POULTNEY & TRIMBLE / BALTIMORE, U.S.A.", and underneath the saddle ring bar, stamped horizontally, is "SMITH'S PATENT / JUNE 23, 1857". The serial number “499” is marked on the bottom of the frame in two places, on the bottom of the barrel (under the hand guard) and on the rear section of the frame at the butt stock attaching point. The part octagonal / part round barrel is 21 5/8 inches long, with blued finish. The barrel is fitted with a blade front sight and a folding ladder rear sight. The “octagonal” portion of the barrel is 6 1/8 inches long and consists of 5 flats over the top 180 degrees of the barrel and a round surface for the lower 180 degrees (the portion under the hand guard). The front 14 inch section of the barrel is round. The barrel is stamped on the left side on the 9’oclock flat with the inspector’s stamp “L.F.R.”. The bottom of the barrel beneath the walnut handguard is stamped (in order from the forward portion of the area under the handguard to the rearward portion) with an “H” aligned with the longitudinal axis of the barrel, then “JH” at 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the barrel, then an “R” aligned with the longitudinal axis, and then the serial number “499” aligned with the longitudinal axis.  The rear sight is stamped with a slanted "H" on the base. The same slanted "H" stamp is repeated on the base of the saddle ring bar. The walnut forearm is stamped with a tiny “JH” just behind the attaching screw bushing. The walnut buttstock carries two cartouches on the left side of the wrist with “L.F.R” in cursive script in a rectangle with rounded corners and  a “J H” in cursive script in an oval. A tiny “JH” is impressed into the rear of comb near the steel buttplate tang tip. The trigger guard tang has a tiny “R” stamp. The tiny “R” is repeated on the toe of the butt plate. [“JH” = initials of the US government armory sub-inspector, Joseph Hannis; “L.F.R.” = inspector’s stamp not identified in the historical records; “H” = inspector’s stamp not identified in the historical records; “R” = inspector’s stamp not identified in the historical records.] The receiver finish is a combination of deep blue and casehardened multi-colors. The hammer and frame are casecolored and the barrel latch is niter blued. The barrel latch release lever is brass or bronze and very elegant in design and execution. The saddle ring and bar mounted on the left side of the receiver are “white” steel with a niter blued mounting screw. The matching walnut stocks are finished with a smooth oil, hand rubbed finish that is original to the carbine.  The walnut forearm is secured by a single blued barrel band secured in place with a single blued wood screw and a single blued screw mounted through the center of the forearm. The straight grip walnut butt stock is attached to the carbine frame with a handmade, single, slot-headed, blued bolt that extends from the interior curve of the butt stock to the threaded attaching point at the rear of the carbine frame. The butt stock has a steel, two screw, curved. carbine buttplate. This beautiful, and extremely rare Smith’s Patent Carbine is chambered in caliber .50. The condition is “excellent plus” for the age and for the Civil War period of its birth....so rare and beautiful as to justify superlatives in the description. The carbine retains most of its original blue finish. As to be expected, there are various marks, rubs, scratches, and similar indications of an age exceeding 150 years. The barrel, specifically, has several areas of surface finish rubbing and a small area of parallel scratches on the top near the muzzle. The barrel latch retains most of the original bright niter blue finish with minor loss in small areas due to flaking. The hammer and receiver retain 98-99% original bright case colors. The buttplate is a mix of bright original blue finish and smooth brown patina. The walnut stocks are excellent-plus, with original finish, original cartouches and impressions, and only a few minor pressure dents and handling marks. The markings and cartouches are sharp and correct. The three digit serial number, “499”, is repeated at four places on the barrel and receiver and frame. Mechanically, this carbine is excellent with a tight action, strong springs, bright bore, and all original components (in our opinion). Experts who have inspected this Smith’s Patent Carbine have stated that they have NEVER seen a Smith Carbine in such pristine condition, not in private hands, not in museums and not in any reference documents. We believe that you will never see another example as extraordinary as this one!!! Here is a an important piece of American firearm history from the time of the American Civil War......and it is available to one person only....the collector/enthusiast who appreciates and demands the exceptional.