Premier Firearms Auction
May 6, 7, 8 & 9, 2022
Our first premier auction of 2022! This event hosts collections from across the country and brings them under one roof for an amazing multi-day auction!
This is an incredible opportunity to add rare and desirable firearms & militaria to your collection.
FRESH, RARE & “AS FOUND” CONFEDERATE RISING BREECH SADDLE RING CARBINE FROM DIRECT DESCENT OF CAPTAIN THOMAS HALL MCKOY, 7th NC INFANTRY, VETERAN OF GETTYSBURG.
01-20932
S# 80
Cal. 54
This is among the rarest & most desirable of Confederate carbines. Only 100 were made by Bilharz & Hall of Pittsylvania Court House, Virginia & delivered to CS government September 16, 1862. Candidus Bilharz was the principal in their manufacture and was naturalized from Baden, Germany not long in the US before war. This is another of the high-grade Confederate arms made by German-Americans who were trained mechanics before immigration. This breech-loading carbine is of unique function not found in any U.S. or C.S. patent, very well made & designed. 21” rnd bbl proofed at breech “P/CS”, unique heavy long iron lever is bowed, acting as trigger guard. Forward portion of lever attaches to hinged plate at rear of frame, which actuates the “rising” breech-block. The tail of lever terminates in semicircle that latches to catch completing circle. To raise the breech for loading, lever must be lowered almost 90 degrees to move breech vertically. Murphy and Madaus in their text “Confederate Carbines & Musketoons” have a detailed chapter on this rarity.
Of the roughly 20 survivors, this most recently discovered example is an outstanding survivor from direct family descent of Confederate officer Thomas H. McKoy. He joined the Wilmington Light Infantry in April of 1861 as a lieutenant and quickly rose through the ranks to Captain and Major in what was eventually designated part of the 7th N. C. Infantry (Branch’s, Law’s and Lane’s Brigade) throughout the war. The 7th served during most of the well-known battles of the Army of Northern Virginia to include Seven Days, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spottsylvania and eventually surrendered a detachment of 1 Officer and 18 men at Appomattox from a unit that recorded over 1600 members during its rolls.
STATUS: ANTIQUE
