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MODEL 1861 “OLD MODEL” MERRILL CARBINE – THE EARLY
CIVIL WAR ISSUE BRASS MOUNTED 1ST MODEL:
The 1st Model Merrill Carbine was issued to
cavalry units from almost every state in the Union, as
well as supplied to units from the Confederate States of
Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Tennessee and Virginia
from stocks purchased before the onset of the Civil
War.
Like many of the brass mounted
Civil War Carbines introduced before and/or during the
early days of the Civil War, these 1st Model
Brass Mounted Merrill Carbines saw extensive service
throughout the length of the conflict and hence they did
not survive in significant numbers, and those that did
survive often show considerable wear commensurate with
their time in the field, and/or mismatched serial
numbers on the lock and breech tang – evidence of
damaged guns having been scavenged for parts to restore
a serviceable carbine.
One of the scarcer brass mounted models of the Civil
War, this early production carbine is in excellent
mechanical condition, with a well fitting levered breech
block, a very crisp lock-trigger action, and it is
fitted with the proper first pattern flat knurled lever
latch that engages and locks against the rear edge of
the rear sight base. The original front and rear sights
are present and both are intact.
The surfaces of the lock, breech, barrel and sling
swivel bar are overall very smooth, with a generally
bright surface and an even naturally aged to plum brown
color, with no significant pitting.
The brass butt plate, patch box, trigger guard, and
barrel band all retain a very pleasing deep mustard
colored patina and the brass shows no evidence of
polishing.
The .54 caliber bore retains very strong rifling, yet
shows its age and service with some scattered pitting.
The bore could benefit from an overall polishing if the
new owner chose to do so. All of the maker’s and patent
information on the lock plate and across the top of the
breech block is present and legible.
The lock plate is serial numbered 4844, and the breech
block receiver handle is serial numbered 1674. Such a
mixture of serial numbers is not uncommon due to field
or arsenal repair work. In this case, the color, finish
and condition of the parts all match, indicating that
the carbine has been together as it presents for a very
long time, and most likely dating from its period of
military service. There are matching assembly numbers –
93 – present on patch box lid, barrel band, bolt handle
and on one wing of the breech release, and its is
possible that same number appears on other parts, but I
have not dismounted those other parts to confirm the
presence of that or other numbers.
The stock is a rich red walnut color and it retains a
nice finish overall. Consistent with the early Merrill
Carbine’s typical Achilles heel, the most significant
evidence of wear on this carbine is centered around the
wrist and the top edge of the lock plate mortise. As
can been seen in the photographs below, a section of the
top edge of the lock mortise has split away and based on
the wear on the exposed grain of the wood, this loss
took place during the period of the carbine’s service
life. There are two cracks – one on each side of the
wrist – running from the area of the trigger back to the
comb of the stock. These cracks were repaired – again,
from all appearances during the service life of the
carbine – and the wrist is solid without any movement or
weakness. These wrist cracks are very common to these
early Merrills due to the elongated wrist and the amount
of wood removed in this area during the inletting
process. Such cracks and breaks were the subject of
regular reports from the field. The stock is otherwise
solid and has only the normal signs of handling and
age.
The 1st Model Brass Mounted Merrill Carbine
is not one of the more commonly encountered early Civil
War carbines. While this one shows evidence of the hard
use to which they were subjected to in the field, and
the length of time they were in service, it still
presents as a credible old veteran of the War, and in
such condition that would have kept it in service,
especially in the hands of a Confederate trooper. This
specimen will be a very nice and historic addition to
any collection of Civil War cavalry carbines. (0303)
$1650
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