3017

RARE CONFEDERATE MUZZLE LOADING BILHARZ CARBINE.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 14,000.00 USD
RARE CONFEDERATE MUZZLE LOADING BILHARZ CARBINE.
Cal. 58. S# E 65. Round 22" bbl. surcharged “CSA / P”. This carbine is a copy of the US Model 1855 made at Pittsylvania Court House, Virginia in small quantities. These carbines typically come w/ pewter nose caps, & sometimes early numbers w/ brass nose caps, such as this one. Gun is serial numbered internally on bottom of bbl. "E 44" w/ matching “E 44” on stock rear of trigger guard. These guns typically saw very hard use w/ no discernible markings & poor stocks. This example has seen little honest use but well cared for & has "CSA / P" stamped on breech, though “CSA” is weak. Long mistakenly referred to as D. C. Hodgkins carbines & so listed in the early texts. Murphy & Madaus in their definitive 2002 text "Confederate Carbines & Musketoons", dedicate a chapter to this manufacturer which is found in provenance. CONDITION: good to very good overall, iron has overall brown patina w/ pitting especially at breech mostly obscuring “CSA” though “P” is well discerned. The lock is not numbered other than Roman numerals & is probably replaced though it fits well, lock refinished. Stock has inset repair opposite lock, otherwise stock has hand worn patina & superior condition to most Bilharz w/ sharp edges. Mechanically fine w/ good rifled bore. (01-18464/JS). ANTIQUE. $8,000-14,000.