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NEAR FINE CONDITION PEABODY CARBINE IN .50 CALIBER

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The Peabody action was a single-shot breechloading system with side-hammer and back action lock firing a self-contained metallic cartridge loaded by moving forward the combination trigger-guard/lever to lower the forward end of the breechblock for insertion of the cartridge from the top. The system was patented in 1862, with the patent then sold to the Providence Tool Company, which entered sample guns in the trials of 1864 and later, with favorable results, but no forthcoming U.S. contracts. Production thus focused on foreign contracts with production of carbines and rifles reaching 112,000 from 1866 to 1871 in a variety of calibers for France, Spain, Mexico, Canada, Romania, and Switzerland, but with substantial unpaid French contracts during the Franco-Prussian War plunging the company into financial problems when the war ended in January 1871.

This is a very good, near fine example of the company’s .50 caliber carbine in the standard military configuration with a 20” round barrel secured by a single barrel band, and short side bar with sling ring on the left side of the receiver. Front and rear sights are in place, the latter with 100-yard notch and folding leaf with 300 and 600 yard apertures. The barrel and barrel band are blued, and the receiver, hammer, lever, and buttplate are color casehardened. The left side of the receiver is sharply marked in five lines: “PEABODY’S PAT / JULY 22, 1862 / MANUF’D BY / PROVIDENCE TOOL CO / PROV  R. I.” The barrel blue is superb. The rear sight has strong blue but a touch of brown on the edges of the sight leaf. The barrel band and side bar base have shifted toward caramel. The case colors of the receiver, hammer and lockplate are strong, with the left of the receiver showing just some spotting and the right side a couple of very tiny dings. The screw heads have nice blue left on them and the slots do not show any roughness from turning.

The wood to metal fit is tight. The wood has a pleasing, warm brown color. The surface is very good. We see just a couple of narrow pressure dents on the right forestock below the rear sight and two scratches near the nose, a couple of very tiny chips along the lockplate, and a narrow cross incised on the top of the wrist near the receiver. Interestingly, although we see various small company inspection initials on parts, we do not see the company inspection cartouche on the left wrist, which appears on their guns headed for export. The .50 cal. carbine was a model intended for sale to France. We can only suspect this one had not been completed or not yet marked when the French contract fell through and it was reserved or produced for domestic sale. South Carolina, for instance, is known to have purchased 350 of these carbines about 1877, which Flayderman says were part of the original French contract, though we would expect those carbines to have the company cartouche as well as an “S.C.” stamp if still in service in the state when those marks were applied in 1881.

Despite the company’s difficulties, the Peabody system went on to continued use and some fame in its modified Peabody-Martini form in both military and civilian arms. This is a great example of their predecessor. The mechanics are perfect. The bore is clean and shiny, showing just a little minor peppering.    [sr][ph:L]

DISCLAIMER: All firearms are sold as collector's items only - we do not accept responsibility as to the shooting safety or reliability of any antique firearm. All firearms are described as accurately as possible, given the restraints of a catalog listing length. We want satisfied customers & often "under" describe the weapons. Any city or state regulations regarding owning antique firearms are the responsibility of the purchaser. All firearms are "mechanically perfect" unless noted, but again, are NOT warranted as safe to fire.

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