Original Excellent U.S. Civil War Smith’s 1857 Patent Saddle Ring Carbine by Massachusetts Arms Co. – Serial 20701 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. The Smith Carbine was a 0.50 caliber breech-loading rifle patented by Gilbert Smith on June 23, 1857 and successfully completed the Military Trials of the late 1850s. It was used by various cavalry units during the American Civil War. It was unique in that it broke apart in the middle for loading, and that it used rubber cartridges which sealed the gases in the breech. The downside was that these cartridges were difficult to remove. It was one of the many “capping breech loader” firearms that bridged the gap between percussion and cartridge firearms.

The carbines were built by three companies: Massachusetts Arms Company of Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts; the American Machine Works in Springfield, Massachusetts; or the American Arms Company in Chicopee Falls. The name of the distributor for the manufacturer, Poultney & Trimble of Baltimore, Maryland, is often stamped on the carbine’s receivers, as is the case with this example.

This is a rare Civil War era example of a complete and original Smith’s Patent Carbine in excellent condition, and is unquestionably the BEST that we have ever seen! We see very little evidence that this carbine was ever used in service. There is lots of the original bluing present on the barrel and other hardware, and even a good amount of the original case hardened finish on the receiver, something we almost never see! The receiver top strap has almost all of the original “Niter bluing” present, and the stocks on this example are simply beautiful! There is just a bit of light oxidation on the bottom of the barrel, and the trigger guard. We have not attempted any cleaning or restoration aside from a wipe down and cleaning some dirt out of the barrel. It is very unlikely that we will see an example this nice again anytime soon!

The distributor information is marked on the left upper receiver:

POULTNEY & TRIMBLE
BALTIMORE. U.S.A.

Below this, under the saddle ring bar, is the manufacture’s abbreviated address marking:

MANUFACTURED BY
MASS. ARMS CO.
CHICOPEE FALLS.

There is also the correct SMITH’S PATENT / JUNE. 23. 1857 marking horizontally under the saddle ring bar, so it is hard to photograph. All of these markings are crisp and show no signs of wear. The carbine carries a five digit serial number of 20701 stamped on the underside of the barrel hinge on both the receiver and barrel side. Mechanically, this carbine is sound with a tight action, strong springs, and all original components (in our opinion). The lock functions correctly, holding at half cock and firing at full. The saddle ring is still intact, retained by the saddle bar on the right hand side. The front and rear sight are both intact, and the rear sight functions correctly, with the slider moving easily.

The bore on this example is as close to MINT as we have ever seen! It is bright and shiny, with crisp lands and grooves, and the original machining marks still visible. There is just the tiniest bit of staining in a few areas, and looks virtually unfired. Both sides of the chamber (barrel and receiver) show no powder burn or fouling, and still have a lot of the original blued finish. The stock wood is in excellent condition, showing just a bit of wear from storage, and no cracks or other major damage. Both the fore and butt stocks show the lovely red brown color of aged oiled walnut. There is a G.P. inspection mark on the left side of the butt stock, which is attributed to inspector George Palmer, who worked approximately 1862-1863.

Here is 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 rare and hard to find!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: c.1863
Caliber: .50″
Cartridge Type: Rubber Cartridge with Percussion Cap
Barrel Length: 21 1/2 Inches
Overall Length: 39 Inches
Action type: Side Action Percussion Lock
Feed System: Single Shot Breech Loading

The Smith’s Patent Carbine, 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 part octagonal and part round barrel is 21 5/8 inches long, with blued finish, while the action is case hardened. 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 butt stock has a steel two-screw curved carbine butt plate. All smith carbines were originally chambered in .50, utilizing a “Capping Breech Loader” system.

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country’s antique gun laws prior to ordering.