Merrill Rifle
American Civil War
.54 caliber. 33" round barrel secured by two pin-retained brass barrel bands. SN: 6246. Browned barrel, color casehardened lock, breech and hammer, brass furniture, smooth straight-gripped walnut stock. Breechloading percussion rifle produced on JH Merrill's patented system. Lock marked J.H. MERRILL BALTO/PAT. JULY 1858/APL. 9 MAY 21-28-61 in three lines under the bolster and with the serial number vertically at the tail. Top of breech lever marked in two lines J.H. MERRILL BALTO/PAT. JULY 1858 and with the matching serial number found on the lock. Counterpane with no visible cartouche. Retains the correct 1858 pattern rear sight, correct pattern brass front sight blade, correct saber bayonet lug and correct full-length button head cleaning rod with threads on the end for the brass cleaning jag that was issued with these guns. Only about 800 of these rare breechloading percussion rifles were produced by the Merrill company and acquired by the US government during the Civil War period. The largest single issue of these arms was to the 21st Indiana Infantry, with smaller numbers issued to the 7th & 10th Michigan Infantry, 4th Arkansas Infantry, and the 1st Massachusetts Infantry. {ANTIQUE}
This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Very Good. Bore good, partly bright with moderate oxidation, some pitting and some frosting and decent rifling. Barrel retains some strong thinning brown which is streaky and mixing with a plum brown patina. Lock, hammer and breech lever with dull traces of the mottled case coloring remaining, showing some oxidation due to age. All markings in metal remain clear and legible. Mechanically functional action. Stock good with moderate wear and numerous scattered bumps, dings, mars and marks.