US Civil War Smith Carbine by Massachusetts Arms Company, Near Mint

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 Falls, 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 is the “Second Model”, or Model of 1863, as it has the side bar and saddle ring instead of the sling swivels of the First Model. Serial number 20938 stamped on the loading assembly, left side of receiver stamped “ADDRESS/POULTNEY & TRIMBLE/BALTIMORE U.S.A.” and “MANUFACTURED BY/MASS. ARMS CO./CHICOPEE FALLS.” above the saddle ring bar. Barrel with inspector’s initial “G.W.S” on left side at the breech. Walnut stock with clear inspector cartouche “JM” (James Mills). Butt plate tang stamped “N”. Barrel retains nearly all of the original bluing, with clear case hardening colors on the receiver. Strong rifling, mechanically excellent. Metal shows nearly all of its original finish, with only minor handling marks. The stock with beautiful finish and only a couple of shallow dings. Overall length 39″. 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. It is said that 34,250 Smith Carbines were made between 1861 and 1865 by the three manufacturers.