Lot 118
US Springfield Model 1855 Pistol Carbine with Matching Numbered Stock
Sale 2030 - Arms, Armor and Militaria
Oct 23, 2024 10:00AM ET
Live / Cincinnati

Estimate
$4,000 - $6,000
Lot Description
US Springfield Model 1855 Pistol Carbine with Matching Numbered Stock
American Civil War
.58 caliber. 12" barrel. NSN. Bright finish, brass furniture, walnut stock. Single shot percussion muzzleloading pistol carbine with Maynard's patent automated priming lock and captive swivel ramrod. Lock marked U.S./SPRINGFIELD at the front and dated 1856 at the rear, with a {Spread-Winged American Eagle} on the primer magazine door. Breech with small V/P/{Eagle Head} inspection marks and dated 1855 on the tang. No cartouches are present on the counterpane. The rear of the butt cap has the batch mating number 14 on it. Retains the original folding leaf rear sight which is in the dovetail backwards, the musket style front sight, sling ring in butt and sling swivel on barrel band. The pistol carbine is accompanied an original detachable stock complete with the attachment yoke and swivel in the toe. These stocks are less often encountered than the pistol carbine itself. The top of the buttplate tang is marked US and the yoke has the matching batch mating number 14. Matching pistol and stock examples are rarely encountered. The US Model 1855 Pistol Carbine was a European inspired idea that mated an overly long and ungainly handgun with a detachable stock, creating a poorly handling pistol or a short carbine with a wobbly stock. As such, the design was not particularly popular with the men they were issued to. Only 4,021 of these awkward and relatively unpopular pistol carbines were produced at Springfield between 1855 and 1857 and today they are relatively scarce.
This lot is located in Cincinnati.
Condition Report
Good to very good pistol, very good buttstock. Bore very good with strong rifling, moderate oxidation and some pitting, mostly bright from the breech to 2"-3" from the muzzle. Metal with scattered oxidation and discoloration, some scattered surface roughness and some scattered pitting, most notably on the barrel near the muzzle, the captive ramrod and at the breech. Markings in metal remain mostly clear and and crisp. Mechanically functional lock with complete and fully functional tape primer system. Pistol stock very good with scattered bumps, dings and mars, strong edges and the usual indentation where the detachable stock yoke mated with the grip. While the pistol stocks are often cracked or broken, this one is not. A small crack is present at the rear lock screw. Buttstock about very good with the usual bumps, dings and mars from service and use. Stock attachment mechanism fully functional and locks onto the pistol well.

The physical condition of lots in our auctions can vary due to age, normal wear and tear, previous damage, and restoration/repair. All lots are sold "AS IS," in the condition they are in at the time of the auction, and we and the seller make no representation or warranty and assume no liability of any kind as to a lot's condition. Any reference to condition in a catalogue description or a condition report shall not amount to a full accounting of condition. Condition reports prepared by Hindman staff are provided as a convenience and may be requested from the Department prior to bidding.

The absence of a posted condition report on the Hindman website or in our catalogues should not be interpreted as commentary on an item's condition. Prospective buyers are responsible for inspecting a lot or sending their agent or conservator to inspect the lot on their behalf, and for ensuring that they have requested, received and understood any condition report provided by Hindman.

Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.
Search