CampSite Artifacts  ·

Here is a Fine & Uncommon P1858 Enfield Naval Rifle Probably Purchased by the State of Louisiana ! Overall, this weapon is in excellent condition, with all the metal having a nice smooth gray/brown patina, and exhibiting only the usual pitting around the nipple and bolster area. The wood stock still has a good amount of what I think is an old re-finish also. These Navy Rifles are similar to the P1856 2-Band Rifle with several differences. The P1858 Navy has a thicker barrel with 5- land and groove rifling, an 1100 yard rear sight, and brass furniture instead of iron. The right side of the barrel has a bayonet lug for cutlass. This particular rifle is quite unusual. It is almost completely unmarked except for the Birmingham Proofs on left rear of the barrel, and a Star with the letters TC on the top flat of the barrel. The proofs of 24 * 24* indicate .58 caliber not the usually seen .577, which definitely indicates it was produced for export. The exterior of the lock plate is completely unmarked, and I see no cartouches or other markings in the wood. Upon partial dis-assembly there are roman numeral mating numbers of VIII, on the bottom of the barrel, the bottom edge of the lock plate, and in the wood inside the lock cavity. The ramrod is not marked though it appears to be original to the rifle. The brass butt plate and trigger guard have a wonderful mellow golden green patina and both sling loops are present and operational. The lock operates as it should with the hammer holding in both positions and releasing when the trigger is pulled. The 5- land and groove rifling is still sharply defined with only minor pitting present. The only mark I see on the inside of the lock plate is the number 20. On the bottom of the barrel in addition to the mating mark, are the letters RM, HM, a large L, and a small T. I say this gun was likely purchased by the State of Louisiana, but it seems there are two camps of thought on this. One says that the Star & TC is indicative of import and sale by Tiffany & Co. of New York, and there are sabers known with this mark. However, in the new book, The Confederate Enfield, by Captain Steven W. Knott, U.S.N. retired, the Star & TC indicates Louisiana Property. I briefly corresponded with Captain Knott when purchasing his book, and he said that there were a few Louisiana Enfields known with the Star mark on the breech area of the barrel like this one, instead of in the wood on the bottom of the comb area of the stock. The mark is known with and without an -L- in the center of the star, with and without the viewer’s initials of TC, and with both a 5 or 6 point star. I know that most of the Enfields I see on other dealer sites with this mark are described as being rifles purchased early in the war for the State of Louisiana, and delivered on Blockade Runners. But, I have priced this as simply a Fine Original Example of a Rare P1858 Enfield Navy Rifle and is is indeed.  Yet, there is likely a Great Confederate History to go with it !

      $2950    NOW JUST   $2500  plus shipping   

Here is a Very Good to Fine Colt Third Model or “Thuer” Derringer in .41 Caliber Rimfire ! It still retains 25-30% of its original blue, mostly on the top of the 2.5 inch barrel, right side, and protected areas such as the lower angle of the right side of the barrel and around the front sight. There is case color still evident on the hammer and a bit on trigger. The brass frame still retains 90% + of its original silver or nickle plating, and the grips as well show approximately 90% of their original finish. Flayderman says Colt made a total of about 48,000 of all three models between 1870 and 1912. This one is a third model with a five digit serial number. The bore still shows good rifling though there is some modest pitting, and the mechanics work fine, with the hammer still holding both positions. Overall, much better condition than most of these Colt Derringers you will see on the internet, yet still priced $150 to $250 dollars less !

                              SOLD

Here is a Nice Post-Civil War Marlin Model “XXX Standard 1872” Revolver ! It is a 5-shot, tip-up 30 caliber rimfire pistol, just a tiny bit bigger than a S&W Model No. 1, and patterned after that design. Flayderman says that all variations were made from 1872-1887, with about 26,000 total manufactured. This one is the “round ribbed barrel, short-fluted cylinder type” which he notes as being manufactured with a total quantity of about 10,000 between 1873 and 1876. Originally all nickeled finish, this one shows about 80% still remaining on the barrel, perhaps 70-80% on the cylinder, and about 50% on the frame. I don’t see any flaking, just wear and some areas of pitting. The rosewood grips still show 90% or so of their original finish, with the usual small use dings. The revolver has all matching serial numbers of 4922, stamped on the breech of the barrel, rear of the cylinder, grip frame, and wood on the left grip. The mechanical function is smooth and indexes very well, with a minimum of play in the cylinder, and for a top-break design, the entire revolver is pretty tight when the action is closed. Only the grip screw shows any wear on the head with the others looking very good. Just a Very Nice Little Marlin Pocket or Vest Revolver from the Indian Wars Period, that gave you a little more Bang, than all the little .22s available !

                                    SOLD   

Here is a Nice Little ca. 1860’s Allen & Wheelock Sidehammer 7-shot, .22 Caliber Revolver ! Flayderman says these were all manufactured between 1858 and 1865. There was a total of eight different issues or patterns, and total production was somewhere over 1500. This example is a 4^th or 5^th pattern showing only the 1858 Patent date, and lacking the later 1860 date. The little revolver measures just six inches long with a two and a half inch barrel. All the metal is a smooth gray/brown patina with a couple small areas of moderate pitting, mostly at the cylinder/barrel junction and front edges of the cylinder. The rosewood grips retain a good portion of their original finish showing the usual wear in places. Mechanical function is fine, indexing cylinder each time, locking good at full cock, and dropping hammer with trigger pull. Left flat of the barrel is still legibly marked, “Allen & Wheelock Worcester, Mass U.S. Allen’s Pat’s. Sept. 7, Nov. 9, 1858.” Serial number 21 is marked on the bottom of the barrel, rear of the cylinder, and frame under the left grip. Like the Smith & Wesson No. 1 and a few other diminutive revolvers of the period, this would have made a perfect pocket pistol for any soldier or officer. An 1860’s Allen & Wheelock .22 Revolver that Functions Fine & Displays Great !

                            SOLD 

Here is a Nice Original .69 Caliber Flintlock Musket w/Bayonet ! It definitely looks manufactured to export, due to the scarcity of markings, but about 35 years before the American Civil War. Due to the lack of markings, I was initially unsure if this is a Model 1822 French, a Model 1828 Austrian patterned after the 1822 French, or a Belgian copy of one or the other. I see no evidence of the butt stock ever having had the circular plug often seen on French examples, and after seeing a similar musket sell at auction with the same barrel length, I believe it is a either a Model 1828 Austrian, or a Belgian Copy. It has a 37 inch barrel, with a total length of 53 inches and appears to have been manufactured in that configuration, with no evidence of being shortened. As I said, there are very few markings. Of the few, the left side of the barrel near the breech shows a proof mark of three “flames” and the date 1832. All three barrel bands show a number of “43” the upper two on the side and the lower one on the bottom. The lock plate is unmarked, as is the top of the barrel and the barrel tang. The lock screws, hammer screw, tang screw, and the spring screws are all marked with a number 2. On the right back corner of the wood butt stock is a white number 65. And that is all the markings I see. All the metal has a nice mostly smooth gunmetal gray color, with a few areas of brown, but very little pitting. The lock still has a strong spring and functions as it should, holding good in both positions, and releasing the hammer when the trigger is squeezed. Both sling swivels are present and working though stiff. The ramrod appears to be the original tulip head pattern with threads at the other end. The wood grain shows very well, almost having a tiger stripe appearance on the butt stock, and there are no damaged areas. The left side of the butt stock has the recessed cheek rest seen on both the 1822 French patterns, and the 1828 Austrian patterns. I’m not sure the bayonet is the original mate to this weapon, but it fits the musket perfectly and the lock ring functions correctly. On the front of the socket it is marked, “No. 130.”, and on the rear flat of the blade, “9G”. It has an 18.75 inch blade with a total length of 22 inches. The metal shows a mostly gray color with old remnants of some kind of coating, but very little pitting. Overall, just a Nice Looking & Fully Functional ca. 1820’s -1830’s European Flintlock Musket, w/Bayonet !

                                              SOLD 

Here is a Beautiful Little Smith & Wesson No. 1 Seven Shot Revolver with Factory Letter ! Though this one was produced in 1868, it is identical to the almost 50,000 of these 2^nd Issue Models that were produced before the Civil War ended, and often found their way into officers and soldiers pockets. This fine example has obviously been restored, and I can say after owning an 1859 production example that was known to be factory re-worked, this restoration appears identical in quality and finish. Though Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson had first worked together as early as 1852, on the Volcanic pistols, they sold that company in 1855, and started a new one “Smith & Wesson” in 1856. These little No. 1 revolvers were the first product of their new company, thus the simple title Model No. 1 . Using the new self contained .22 caliber rimfire cartridge, the little seven-shooters quickly became quite popular with the public, and as mentioned before, soldiers and officers, as a hideout or pocket gun. This example shows probably 98% of its mirror blue finish remaining, with only one small area near the left side of the muzzle showing some wear and a tiny bit of pin prick surface rust. That may be holster or sleeve wear. The silver plated frame looks to have 99% of its silver plating still intact with a beautiful smooth mirror finish as well. All the metal edges are crisp and all the markings easily legible. The original rosewood grips show about 80% of their original finish. The mechanical function is very crisp, indexing correctly each time, and locking up good. Crisp marking on top of the barrel reads, “Smith & Wesson Springfield Mass.” The serial number of “120, 533” is clear on the butt of the grip and also stamped on the inside of the right wood grip. The matching assembly numbers of “ C 1” are stamped on the right inside of the grip frame, the front face of the cylinder, and the back of the barrel breech. The cylinder is marked with the patent dates, 1855, 1859, & 1860. The Factory Letter that accompanies the revolver is specific to this exact serial number and mentions that the little pistol was probably shipped on May 21^st, 1868, to J.W. Storrs, in New York, New York. It also says that this revolver was part of a shipment of 100 delivered to Storrs, and says that “this revolver was shipped with a 3 & 3/16 inch barrel, two tone finish, with a plated frame, and blue barrel.” There are still S &W No. 1’s out there, but many are rough and ragged looking. This one displays superbly, and has the factory letter to go with it. The No. 1 was the first commercially successful collaboration between Smith & Wesson, and the beginning of a legendary line of revolvers. In the August 19^th, 2009, article about the top ten handguns of all time, American Rifleman Magazine rated the S & W Model No. 1 in fourth place, saying, “ The little seven-shooter, however, is arguably the granddaddy of all modern handguns.” Though it is just a few years post Civil War this is still a Great Piece of American Firearms History !

                        SOLD