Serial #76700, .50-70, 22″ barrel with a fair, three-groove bore that has dark freckling, heaviest about midway down. Predominantly plum-brown patina mixing with some original blue along the barrel and some gray fading at the muzzle. The frame likewise has a dull brown patina throughout with some bright gray along the raised edges and projections. The sling bar and ring have a mottled gray patina with spots of dark plum-brown freckling and pinprick pitting on the rear mount. The correct walnut buttstock without patchbox has numerous minor handling marks in the original oil finish as well as some with-the-grain drying cracks at the toe of the butt. The walnut fore-end matches the condition of the buttstock with a single straight crack running up from the frame and through the screw bolster. The action lock-up is still tight and functions flawlessly. Prior to its conversion to cartridge, this was a Civil War-issued carbine, and is listed in Coates & McAuley's book as having been issued to: Carpenter, E.W., Co. C. Edward Carpenter, a resident of Jacksonville, Illinois, enlisted on September 3, 1861, as a private and mustered into Co. C, 6th Illinois Cavalry on November 19. He served throughout the war but died on June 17, 1864, just three months shy of the end of his enlistment. This is an antique and transfers with no federal restriction. RR Auction COA.
