Beschreibung:

.54 caliber. 24.25" round barrel secured by a two flat brass screw-retained barrel bands. SN: 262. Browned and color casehardened finish, brass furniture, walnut stock. Single shot percussion breechloading rifled carbine. Breech marked: Wm Jenks and in four lines: USN / JCB / P / 1843. Mule-ear lock marked Wm Jenks at the tail and in three lines: NP AMES / SPRINGFIELD / MASS. Interior of breech lever marked 262. No visible cartouche on the counterpane. Carbine is in the typically encountered "modified" configuration with the oval rather than round loading aperture and a rifled bore. Sling ring remains in tang of triggerguard. 4,250 of these distinctive "mule ear" lock percussion carbines were produced by the NP Ames company for the US Navy from 1843-1846. Originally they had round loading apertures and smooth bores. The large majority were subsequently altered to oval loading apertures and rifled bores like this gun. This is a very nice condition example of a scarce US Navy Carbine from the Mexican War period. Condition: Near fine. Barrel with much thinning and fading brown. Lock, hammer and lever with dulled and muted case color giving them a slightly mottled blue-black appearance. Markings in the metal remain clear and crisp. Mechanically functional, fine bright bore with strong rifling. Brass with dull golden patina. Stock very good, lightly sanded with some scattered bumps, dings and mars.