.54 caliber. 33" barrel. SN: 6656. Blued and color casehardened finish, brass furniture, walnut stock. Single shot percussion breechloading rifle with correct pattern 1858 style three leaf rear sight, blade front sight, saber bayonet lug on right side of barrel, replaced sling swivels and incorrect cleaning and clearing rod. Standard Merrill markings on lock and breech lever, with matching serial numbers on both as well.

These rare rifles based upon the Merrill breechloading patent were produced circa 1862-1865, with only about 800 made versus some 15,000 or so carbines. Most of these rifles were issued to the 21st Indiana Infantry, with small numbers of the guns going to the 7th & 10th Michigan, 4th Arkansas and 1st Massachusetts. A rare Civil War era breechloading rifle not often encountered for sale.

Note: This lot cannot be packaged and shipped in-house. Successful bidders winning items marked as being packaged and shipped by a third-party service are responsible for paying the third party directly. We are happy to offer complimentary drop-off service to local third-party packing/shipping companies in Columbus, Ohio. {ANTIQUE}

[Guns, Firearms, Revolvers, Rifles, Longarms, Handguns, Arms & Armor] 

Good. Bore good, with decent rifling, moderate oxidation and some pitting. Metal with no finish remaining and indications of an old cleaning, showing scattered patches and spots of oxidized surface roughness and discoloration, as well as some scattered pitting. Markings remain mostly legible. Sling swivels replaced, cleaning rod replaced. Mechanically functional action. Brass lightly cleaned to a nice golden color. Stock lightly sanded with the often encountered wrist crack and scattered bumps, dings, scratches and mars.