This is a very historical, Model 1839 Paterson Carbine.  It was originally  manufactured without an attached loading lever and is serial number 770.  The serial number is found on the back of the barrel, the wedge, back of the cylinder, the bearing plate, the ratchet, the retaining ring, the hammer,  the frame, the upper tang and the butt stock.  The factory retrofitted many of these carbines with loading levers by mounting them on the right side over the top of the original barrel address.  Now the loading lever on this gun is period, not a replacement, and is mounted using the factory procedure.  However, if you look at the lever itself, it is slightly different.  The stem of the lever is strangely reminiscent to some of the John Ehlers Paterson Pistols which had levers attached.  You will also note that while the retention spring serves exactly the same purpose, it is reversed.  Now all this tells me that this loading assembly was probably attached to this gun when the factory was under John Ehlers' control. 

The most obvious characteristic about this gun is the extremely well made carbine bar on the left side of the stock.  I have only seen one other gun which was identical to this gun, except that it had 80 or 90% of original period refinish.  The gun had been refurbished and also had the same attached lever and carbine bar.  The first time I saw it, I thought it was just a custom gunsmith playing around.  The second time, I bought the gun, took it home and disassembled it.  The most significant thing about the carbine bar is that the plate ends in the same bullet taper that you see on the upper and lower tangs of the gun.  In other words, it just looks like Paterson work.  The two screws that hold it on are exactly the same diameter and exactly the same threads per inch as the screws used to assemble the frame components.  They will actually interchange with the frame screws.  Pretty powerful statement that this is probably factory work.  Further, the back side of the carbine bar plate is numbered with a small die.  The same small die is used to number the butt stock, underneath the butt plate (sort of an assembly number).  The carbine bar on this one is an eight number mismatch but it is obvious they are the same dies.   When all is considered, I have to conclude that the carbine bar is factory work, probably done after John Ehlers took control.  There must have been a very small group of guns which were built this way or we would have encountered more examples by now. 

I have hit the books and done some pretty serious studying and I think I know what these guns are.  Sometime in 1842, the governor of Rhode Island, Samuel Ward King, raised a company of "Carabineers" to put down an open rebellion of supporters of Thomas W. Dorr to advocate broader state suffrage.  He purchased 50 1839 Paterson Carbines from John Ehlers in New York.  The Carabineers fought two minor battles and were disbanded on July 4, 1842.  Some few carbines were presented to members of the unit, probably for meritorious service.  The remainder were turned over the Rhode Island Quartermaster General and remained in storage until 1848.  In 1848, Sam Colt purchased these carbines with the intention of selling them overseas.  He further modified them by fitting the cylinders with ratchets and refurbishing.  (The first gun I saw like this had been basically factory refinished.)  Now this gun does not have a cylinder fitted with a ratchet and I surmise that it is one of the guns which were presented to the officers and men of the company prior to storage.  This information may be found on page 64 of the the book Samuel Colt, Arms, Art and Invention by Herbert G. Houze.  A solid condition, rare and historically interesting 1839 Paterson Carbine.  Click on image for additional views.   SOLD!!

This is an extremely rare Philadelphia made Eagle Head Officer's Sword.  The blade measures approximately 29 inches with an overall length of 34 1/2 inches.  The condition is pretty amazing.  The blade is fairly bright and relatively smooth.  The hilting retains 90 percent plus of the original gold gilt.  The solid wood grip retains all of its finish with no chips or repairs.  The blade is marked, on the back near the guard, J. Rose.  The guard is marked within a ribbon, J. Wolf.  The leather of the scabbard has deteriorated beyond repair but every piece of it has been meticulously saved, along with the sword.  You will notice that the gold gilt is still very much present on the scabbard mountings.  The Rose family figures very heavily in early American sword making.  Joseph Rose was the son of the original William Rose, Philadelphia sword maker.  Joseph was one of three sons who followed his father in the sword making craft.   He was born in 1778 and died in 1819.   Joseph's father died in 1810 and it seems he operated under his own name from then until his death in 1819.  The J. Wolf mark on the guard seems to correspond with a J. Wolf in the Philadelphia area from around 1810 to around 1819 who was listed as a silversmith.  He may be described as a cutler who supplied the ornate mountings and eagle head for the construction of the sword.  Click on image for additional views.  SOLD!!

Back in the 1990's, I had a fairly extensive collection of Cook & Brother Long Arms.  To achieve that effort, I bought virtually any and everything I saw that was Cook & Brother, including pieces and parts.  I found these pieces in the attic the other day and thought someone might could use them.  The pile includes two cut off Cook & Brother rifle stocks, one rotted, the other sound.  Also one full length Cook & Brother musketoon stock, two trigger guards, one butt plate and a lock assembly.  The musketoon stock was fitted with an odd barrel during the period of use.  I don't know what it is but I think it is of European origin.  One trigger guard is broken, bent and dug.  The other trigger guard is still attached to the wood but had the swivel ground off it.  Some of it is kind of interesting, if anyone needs it.  Click on image for additional views.  SOLD!!