Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. The Vereinsgewehr 1857 (union rifle, mod. 1857) was the commonly developed rifle of Baden, Hesse and Württemberg for their troops of the 8th Bundesarmee corps as a successor of the Musket Model 1777 corrigé. The rifle for the line infantry was, with minor modifications in the sights, adopted by all three states; pistols and carbines for the cavalry and sharpshooter rifles for the Jäger were, however, developed by each state on its own. The percussion locks used with this used the Swiss model, i.e. there was no loading position / Half Cock of the hammer. The model was designed to fire a .547in. (13.9 mm) Minié ball, similar to most percussion arms of the time. These were manufactured by Königlich Württembergische Gewehrfabrik and others in Suhl, Germany.
This is a very nice rare example of the carbine version of the M1857, which we believe may have been exported to the United States during the Civil War. Reliable percussion carbines such as this were very much in demand at the time. The carbine was one of the many M1857's produced in Suhl Germany, and is marked SUHL 1861 in front of the carbine rear right. The lock plate is marked with CROWN / SP. & SR., for manufacture by Spangenberg & Sauer of Suhl, Germany. This is one of the early names of the company that would grow to become the legendary J. P. Sauer und Sohn company, which exists to this day.
The carbine is also marked with 283 on the left barrel facet, which we believe to be the serial number. To the right of this is 7 . 29., probably a unit marking, which is duplicated on the butt plate tang. All of the screws bear assembly number 53, so this looks to not have been "messed with" in the many years it has existed. It still has the original three leaf rear sight for the carbine. The carbine measures a very compact 35 1/4 inches long, with a 20 inch barrel. It still has a ramrod under the barrel, but it looks to be a post war replacement.
Condition of the carbine is very good, with a lovely aged look. The metalwork has an aged peppered patina overall, showing past corrosion which was cleaned away, probably long ago. Both sling swivels are still present, and the lock is fully functional, and correctly does not have any safety / half cock position as per the Swiss design. The bore still shows clear five groove rifling, though it also shows some past fouling and pissing, now cleaned away.
A very rare percussion carbine from one of the German states prior to the formation of the empire, possibly imported for the U.S. Civil war. Ready to research and display!
Specifications-
Year of Manufacture: 1861
Caliber: .547"(13.9 mm) Minié ball
Ammunition Type: Cap & Ball
Barrel Length: 20 Inches
Overall Length: 35 1/4 Inches
Action: Side Action Percussion Lock
Feed System: Muzzle Loader
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