Product Details
POULTNEY & TRIMBLE, U.S.A.
AN EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD .50 CAPPING BREECH-LOADING SMITH PATENT CARBINE, serial no 9299.
with 21 1/2in. octagonal to round barrel fitted with block and blade front-sight, ladder rear-sight, breech stamped with makers legend "ADDRESS / POULTNEY & TRIMBLE / BALTIMORE, U.S.A" and "SMITHS PATENT / JUNE 23RD 1857", two piece iron mounted walnut stock, short fore-end with single barrel band, the butt with a crisp U.S. inspecting officers cartouche, This is an exceptional collectors item with sharp crisp stock, the barrel with much original deep blue, fading case colours to action, mint bore, likely unissued
Provenance: This pattern of carbine was the invention of Gilbert Smith a physician of Buttermilk Falls, New York the design then being taken up by Poultney & Trimble. 30,000 Smith carbines were acquired by the U.S. government during the Civil War seeing extensive issue and use during that conflict. At the battle of Gettysburg the 17th Pennsylvania and the 3rd W. Virginia carried the Smith, they formed part of General Bufords cavalry division and helped check the Confederate advance. Many Smith carbines remained in service into the 1870's with the volunteers, as late as 1869 Ordnance records mention the issue of 1000 Smith carbines in South Dakota. It is a little known fact that is was a government surplus Smith carbine that decimated the Jessie James and Cole Younger gang when they attempted to rob the bank at Northfield Minnesota on 7th September 1876. From a second story window a medical student Henry M Wheeler witnessed the attack on the bank and opened fire with his military surplus Smith carbine. His first shot killed Clell Miller, the second round shattered Rob Youngers arm, Bill stiles was also killed and Cole Younger wounded.
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Estimate £1,000-1,500