Product Details
A RARE .54 JENKS CAPPING BREECH LOADING U.S. NAVY CARBINE BY N. P. AMES, CIRCA 1845, no visible serial number,
with 24in. smoothbore barrel, stamped at the breech 'AMES / U.S.N / R.C. / P / 1845', the action features a lever, lifting it and drawing it back withdraws a plunger allowing the carbine to be loaded with powder and ball through a small loading port in the top of the breech, the lock is of a unique design with a sidehammer its advantage being less moving parts, the lockplate stamped 'N. P. AMES / SPRINGFIELD / MASS' on the centre and on the tail 'WM JENKS', brass mounted full walnut stock with two brass barrel bands the top band with blade front-sight, repair to wrist
Provenance: This system of breech loading was invented by William Jenks who worked tirelessly to interest the U.S. Government in his design. He managed to achieve some success as the U. S. Navy contracted for the supply of approx. 4200. carbines and a further 1000 rifles. A small quantity of this pattern were also supplied to the U.S. Army for trials, they were not a success. Incidentally Jenks also travelled to London where his system was tried by the Board of Ordnance
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Estimate £600-800