The Smith was one of the top four cavalry carbines procured by the U.S. government in the Civil War and saw extensive service. Patented by an upstate New York physician in 1855 (with some additions in 1856 and 1857,) the .50 caliber carbine is hinged in the middle, permitting the barrel to tip down, exposing the breech for insertion of a rubber case or paper and foil cartridge pierced at the bottom for ignition by a standard percussion cap primer. Poultney and Trimble of Baltimore acted as agents on commission and during the war the government purchased 31,002 from January 1862 to June 1865, with others sold on the commercial market through military goods dealers such at Schuyler, Hartley and Graham. This one is serial number 21049, matching on forestock and receiver, which dates it to early December 1864 in the tables of government purchases, but it may be a bit earlier when commercial sales are taken into account. Flayderman lists the 3^rd WV, 7^th and 11^th Illinois, 1^st CT, 7^th and 17^th PA, 6^th and 9^th Ohio, and the 1^st Mass. as among the cavalry regiments carrying it.

The wood to metal fit is tight and the wood shows nice color, surface and finish with a visible inspector cartouche at the left wrist. The wood shows only minor handling marks and one small surface chip on the right, just adjacent to the receiver, that was replaced, closely matching the grain. Both sights are present. The barrel has excellent blue, 90 percent or better with just a hint of brown underneath in a few places. The barrel band and top of the rear sight show rubbing, but the long spring latch has nice blue matching the barrel. The receiver shows good color fore and aft with some muted silver in between that is mixed with thin case color, and the heads of the screws show blue. On the underside the triggerguard tang is rubbed, but the rear band of the receiver, the collar for the buttstock, which is most subject to wear from handling, still shows a smoky blue, rubbed only by the sling ring. The left side receiver markings are sharp: “MANUFACTURED BY / MASS. ARMS CO / CHICOPEE FALLS. ” forward, and “ADDRESS / POULTNEY & TRIMBLE / BALTIMORE U.S.A.” at upper rear, with “SMITH’S PATENT / JUNE 23, 1857” partially behind the sling ring bar. The buttstock is excellent, with nice color, surface, and grain, few handling marks and a good fit to the receiver and buttplate.

The mechanics are fine. The carbine locks up tight. The bore is excellent. This is a very nice example of one the most widely issued cavalry carbines of the war.   [sr] [ph:L]

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