US Civil War Smith Carbine by Massachusetts Arms Company, Near Mint

Description

The Smith Carbine was patented by Gilbert Smith of Buttermilk Falls, New York and sold
through agents Thomas Poultney and D.B. Trimble of Baltimore. They were manufactured
by the firms of American Machine Works of Springfield, Massachusetts, Massachusetts
Arms Co., and American Arms Co., both of Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts. Almost all the
production was purchased by the US Government for cavalry use during the Civil War. It
features a blued 21 1/2″ octagonal to round barrel in .50 caliber, casehardened breech, iron
mounts, and walnut stock. Folding adjustable rear sight and front blade sight. The carbine
is loaded by depressing the spring-loaded brass latch located inside the trigger guard at the
forward end, releasing the barrel to pivot downward. This example is the “Second Model”,
or Model of 1863, as it has the side bar and saddle ring instead of the sling swivels of the
First Model. Serial number 20938 stamped on the loading assembly, left side of receiver
stamped “ADDRESS/POULTNEY & TRIMBLE/BALTIMORE U.S.A.” and
“MANUFACTURED BY/MASS. ARMS CO./CHICOPEE FALLS.” above the saddle ring bar.
Barrel with inspector’s initial “G.W.S” on left side at the breech. Walnut stock with clear
inspector cartouche “JM” (James Mills). Butt plate tang stamped “N”. Barrel retains nearly
all of the original bluing, with clear case hardening colors on the receiver. Strong rifling,
mechanically excellent. Metal shows nearly all of its original finish, with only minor handling
marks. The stock with beautiful finish and only a couple of shallow dings. Overall length
39″. Among the Union cavalry regiments equipped with the Smith Carbine were the 3rd
West Virginia, 7th and 11th Illinois, 1st Connecticut, 7th and 17th Pennsylvania, 6th and 9th
Ohio, and the 1st Massachusetts. It is said that 34,250 Smith Carbines were made between
1861 and 1865 by the three manufacturers.