A Smith Patent Percussion Capping Breach Loader Cavalry Carbine. 39 ¼” overall, 21 ½” drop down two stage .50cal. barrel, three groove rifling, blade fore sight, folding leaf rear sight. Receiver marked 'ADDRESS POULTNEY & TRIMBLE, BALTIMORE, USA' & 'SMITHS PATENT JUNE 23RD 1857' the breech marked ‘MANUFACTURED BY AM'N. M'CH'N. WKS. SPRINGFIELD. MASS.', Second trigger to release the barrel, saddle ring, walnut straight hand butt stock, iron heel plate & walnut fore end with iron barrel band. Matching serial numbers 1227 on the barrel & frame. Cartouche on the L/H wrist, “J.H” for J. Hannis & “LFR" sub inspector’s mark on left barrel flat.
Circa 1862
In very good condition, much original finish very good bore.
The Smith carbine was designed by Dr Gilbert Smith of Buttermilk Falls, New York, in the late 1850s and was manufactured by the American Machine Works, Massachusetts Arms Company, & American Arms Company in Massachusetts from 1861 to 1865. The Smith was one of the more popular cavalry carbines used during the war. A total of 30,362 Smith carbines were purchased by the United States during the Civil War. Smaller quantities of the carbines were sold commercially including through Schuyler, Hartley & Graham. Poultney & Trimble served as Gilbert Smith's agents.