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**SOLD** 1871-72 Vintage Providence Tool Company Peabody .45-70 Gov't Rifle for Connecticut Militia w/ Original Bayonet
Guns International #: 102024082 Seller's Inventory #: CBP22-31
Category: Military Rifles - Antique - Military Arms
Seller's Information
When emailing or calling sellers direct, please mention that you saw their listing on GunsInternational.com
Seller: Antique & Modern Firearms, Inc.
Company: Antique & Modern Firearms, Inc.
Member Since: 4/27/15
State: Kentucky
Zip: 40503
Country: United States
Phone: (859) 276-1419
Fax: (859) 278-0838
Platinum Seller
Number of Active Listings: 191
Total Number of Listings: 14860
Seller: FFL Dealer
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Payment Types Accepted: Visa,Master Card, Discover,Check
Description:
This is a very nice all-original and honest example of a Connecticut Militia-issued Peabody Rifle in .45-70 Gov't caliber, complete with an original bayonet as well. The Peabody rifle's development started during the American Civil War years, in fact, a few examples were submitted to the U.S. Military during the trials of 1864 with favorable results. Six examples were made at Springfield Arsenal for further testing, but the Civil War ended and the U.S. Government ended all interest in the rifle. Peabody would have to look elsewhere to sell his rifle and he found willing buyers in foreign governments engaged in wars of their own, as well as Canada. Providence Tool Company in Rhode Island would build the rifles and carbines using Peabody's Patent of 1862, which would then be shipped overseas to the purchasing government. The end of the Franco-Prussian War in January of 1871 left Peabody with a large surplus of completed rifles in .43 Spanish and carbines in .50 Rimfire that they needed to sell. The pricing that was being used with the foreign contracts was too high to win any state militia contracts in the United States, so the decision was made to cut pricing in the hopes of winning some state contracts. The plan worked to a degree, and three states signed contracts for the Peabody. Connecticut contracted for 2000 of the .43 Spanish rifles in 1871-72, Massachusetts contracted for 2,941 of the .43 Spanish rifles in 1872, and Sough Carolina contracted for 350 of the .50 Rimfire Carbines. This particular example is one of the Connecticut contract rifles. The 2000 rifles were delivered to Connecticut by the end of 1972 and they were issued to militia troops for use. By 1877 these Peabody rifles were in rough shape after 7 years of rough treatment and use by the state militia. The Connecticut government went back to Peabody and negotiated a contract to have the rifles refurbished and rebarreled in the standard .45-70 Gov't cartridge. The rifles were all rebuilt and rebarreled and put back into use with the state militia until 1896, at which point the rifle was deemed obsolete and they were sold off as surplus to Francis Bannerman of New York who would then sell them commercially. These Connecticut State Militia rifles can be identified by their state militia serial number, located on a steel plate in the location where you would normally find a lower sling swivel. They were marked with "CONN" over a 4-digit serial number. This particular rifle is "CONN 1225". As you can see from the pictures, the metal shows a mostly gray-brown patina that is consistent across all parts of the rifle. All of the factory markings are still intact and fully legible, including the numerous small single-letter part inspection markings and the main Peabody / Providence Tool address on the left side of the receiver. While there is some scattered light pitting on parts of the rifle, most of the metal is smooth and attractive. The bore in the 33" inch barrel is very good, with strong and very well-defined rifling throughout the barrel and only a little frosting visible in the grooves. The bore is free from any dents, bulges, or irregularities, and should be just as accurate today as the day after it was rebarreled by Providence Tool in 1877. The original stock set on this Peabody is in good shape overall as well. It shows wear and handling marks consistent with the condition of the metal, but is free from any major damage, cracks, or repairs. The buttstock and forend match each other very well in every respect, and all of the stock hardware appears to be original and in good condition. The stock is marked in two places with a upward arching "N.H.G." cartouche right behind the receiver on the top of the stock and just above the militia I.D. plate on the keel of the buttstock. The stock is also stamped with the number "24" with some red paint fill still remaining in it on the top of the wrist, and again in a smaller font along with a large letter "B" above the tang of the buttplate. The original Connecticut State Militia steel ID plate on the keel of the butt is in very good condition and still retains most of the original blue finish. The original stock set on this Peabody is nice and tight on both ends with no play in it and tight joints with the metal. This original Peabody rifle is in good working order. The lever-operated action locks up tight with no lever droop when closed and stays snapped open with the lever in the down position. The firing pin moves freely and the hammer still has both the half and full-cock notches intact. The hammer will not drop from half-cock if the trigger is pulled. The original ladder-style adjustable rear sight is in good shape and the elevator stays in position when slid to a yardage setting. The left side of the sight base has the settings labeled on it for 100 thru 400 yards, while the flip-up ladder has settings from 500 to 1300 yards (could be meters as well, not specified). As mentioned earlier, this Peabody rifle comes complete with an original U.S. Model 1873 bayonet, which the rebarreled Peabody was designed to use. The Model 1873 bayonet is in good condition overall and still retains a good bit of original finish. If you have been looking for a very interesting new antique rifle for your collection this Connecticut Militia Peabody rifle and bayonet would be a great choice. With only 2000 of these originally made in 1871-72, this is a rare weapon with an interesting history!
SOLD
Antique: Yes
Rifle Caliber: .45-70 Government
Manufacturer: Providence Tool Co.
Model: Peabody Rifle (Connecticut Militia Issue)
Serial Number: None (Connecticut State Militia # 1225)
Barrel Length: 33" Inches
Condition: Good
Metal Condition: Good
Wood Condition: Good
Bore Condition: Very Good
Action: Lever Operated Falling-Block Single-Shot
Stock: Smooth American Walnut
Sights: Iron Sights w/ Rear Flip-Up Ladder Sight Graduated to 1300 Yards
Manufacture Date: 1871-72
Extras: w/ U.S. Model 1873 Socket Bayonet