US Civil War Smith Carbine by American Machine Works

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, 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 with matching serial
number 11385, left side of receiver stamped “ADDRESS/POULTNEY &
TRIMBLE/BALTIMORE U.S.A.” and “SMITHS PATENT/JUNE 22, 1857” behind the saddle
ring bar. Barrel with inspector’s initial “L.F.R.” on left side at the breech. Walnut stock with
clear inspector cartouche “JJC” (John J. Cornwell) and large “29″ on the left wrist, showing a
few scattered dings and scratches from field use. Barrel retains a good amount of the
original bluing and scattered light pitting on the remainder of the metal, with case hardening
colors visible. Good rifling, mechanically excellent. Overall length 39 1/8″. 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. Approximately 30,000 Smith Carbines were made between 1861 and 1865
by the three manufacturers.