Fine Modern & Antique Arms - November 2022 : Sale A1122 Lot 538
A .50 GALLAGERS PATENT CAPPING BREECH LOADING CARBINE OF AMERICAN CIVIL WAR, CIRCA 1862, serial no. 9027,

Product Details

A .50 GALLAGER'S PATENT CAPPING BREECH LOADING CARBINE OF AMERICAN CIVIL WAR, CIRCA 1862, serial no. 9027,
with 22in. barrel rifled with six grooves and fitted with a pinched blade front-sight and leaf battle-sights, back-action lock marked on the tail 'GALLAGER'S PATENT / JULY 17TH 1860' and in the centre 'MANUFACTURED BY / RICHARDSON & OVERMAN / PHILADA / 9027', iron mounted walnut butt with trap, side-bar and ring fitted to left of action, the action is operated by an underlever, pulling it down unlocks the barrel which slides forward and drops down for loading

Provenance: This system was the invention of a Mahlon J. Gallager (a Southerner from Georgia) and patented by him in July 1860. He went into business with the the firm of Richardson & Overman who proceeded to sell it to the Government for issue to the Union forces. In total the supplied approx 23,000 which were extensively issued but not liked. Later in the war the design was modified to accept the .56-50 Spencer cartridge and a further 5000 supplied. Many of the original percussion arms were also converted to cartridge after the war when sold off as surplus, many into shotguns. Today this model in its original percussion configuration is quite rare



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Estimate £500-700