A.W.Spies Black Powder Shotgun
Here is another beautiful old shotgun that came out of eastern Ky, and out of my brothers collection. Like the Pepper Boxes and the Model 1860 handmade rifle I got off of him, these old guns are really getting harder and harder to find. Sure wish they could talk to me. I really have no idea if this shotgun was used in the war, but a lot of Confederate soldiers preferred shot guns, mostly double barrels, over muskets. This one has AW Spies, and Warranted stamped into the lock plate. I know that AW Spies made a lot of very collectable and high grade guns, and swords before the war. I think this shot gun was made between 1832 and 1860. Thanks brother for letting me get these off of you to add to my collection.
1863 Springfield Musket
I picked up this Model 1863 Springfield from a family that moved to the area from Massachusetts. Didn’t think to ask if it was a family heirloom, or if they knew who carried it during the war. They just said that they had had it for quite awhile. The Model 1863-1865 was the last black powder musket that Springfield produced. I can still shoot this one, and have a few times. There is nothing like the feeling you get shooting an original Civil War Musket.
Model 1816 Contract Musket
Contract muskets were muskets made and assembled by private gunsmiths for Springfield Armory to help keep up with the demand for the Army. There were several contractors making them for the Springfield, and some are quite collectable today. These gunsmiths would put their names and cities of manufacture and year produced, on the lock plates to identify their guns. This one was made in 1836, by A. Waters, Millbury Mass. It has been converted from flintlock to percussion cap, probably around the 1850’s. It is a 69 cal. smoothbore, and has Masonic symbols and I trials carved into the stock. I found this one hanging on a work shop wall at a friends house. He said all he knew about it was that his dad got it off one of their neighbors years ago, and it stay in the closet until he passed away. Then he got it and hung it on the wall. It came out of Fleming Co. Ky. You just never know where a treasure will show up.
Model 1860 Lock Plate
Here is a picture of the lock plate and rear peep sight of the Model 1860 Rifle I have posted. This is what is called a rear lock plate. Which means that most of the lock plate is located behind the hammer screw. It wasn’t until the Civil War that locks were being made on the front side of the hammer.
Allen & Thurber Pepperboxes
I got this beautiful set of Allen & Thurber Pepperbox pistols from my brothers gun collection. Both of these are 31 cal. and have a 1845 patent date stamped on them. Officers liked carrying these because they were double action, you had 6 shots, and it would fit in your pants pocket quite easy. What makes these unique, is that the cylinder and the barrel are made together, and no hammer sticking up to cock each time you wanted to fire it. This set came with a powder flask, and a bullet mold. I am very lucky to have gotten these fort collection. Thanks brother!
1860 Handmade Rifle
Of all of the guns in my Civil War collection, this has to be one of my favorite. And like the Pepperbox Pistols, this also came from my brothers collection. There are no markings on the gun, except from where it had a repair done, and the gunsmith etched his name in the barrel. I have had it appraised several times, and they all tell me that it dates around 1860, by the way it was made. Rifles like this came out of North West Virginia, now West Virginia, before the war. The barrel was hand made and rifled, 36 cal. and the wood and brass has all been hand fitted. It has a rear peep sight and a front hooded thin blade sight. Both hand made also. This could pass very easily as a sniper rifle. Very rare to find these types of sights. It is also equipped with double set triggers, and is perfectly balanced. Just a beautiful hand made rifle. I still shoot this one, and the sights are still dead on.
Model 1816 Springfield Musket
I picked up this nice Model 1816 Springfield Musket at a local gun show. It is a 69 cal. smooth bore. It has a 1841 manufacture date on the lock plate. Originally this musket would have been a flint lock, but it has been converted to percussion cap sometime before the war. Most conversions on these military issued muskets were made in the 1840’s. It makes them a lot more dependable. This musket has had the barrel shortened, which was pretty common back then and after the war. Shortening the barrel turned it into a great shotgun. I still fire this gun today.
Double Barrel Shotgun
Here is a close up of the CS engraved between the barrels of the shotgun.
Double Barrel Shotgun
While at a Civil War, gun show in Louisville Ky, a gentleman came in carrying this double barrel trying to sell it. It was in very bad condition. Mostly just needed cleaned up. Looked like it had been displayed for years above a fireplace. A good friend of mine purchased the gun, then came the process of cleaning it up. After the week long process of getting all of the grime and gunk off of it, it produced this beautiful double barrel. Then after cleaning the barrels to try to find a maker, the ultimate surprise came to surface. Between the barrels where the maker should be engraved, you can see where a jeweler had removed the maker’s mark and had engraved CS, for Confederate States. We couldn’t believe it. The brass was so old and worn that it had almost turned to a white color. During the war, this was a Confederate soldiers best friend. It took awhile for me to get this, but it is in my collection now. The stories this gun could tell!
Double Barrel Shotgun
Here is another great find out of the mountains of Eastern Ky. I can’t verify that this double barrel was used in the war, but shotguns like this one were the most preferred weapon of the Confederate soldier. It still amazes me when I am able to find beautiful old guns like this, even if it is just a wall hanger. This one was manufactured by Wm. Moore of London.
