U.S. Navy Jenks-Merrill Breech Loading Percussion Carbine

Only an estimated 300 Jenks carbines were altered by James H. Merrill to the Merrill system for the U.S. Navy in the late 1850s to 1860 in order to test the practicality of the Merrill combustible paper cartridge as opposed to William Jenks' system, which required loading with loose powder and ball. It has a blade front sight on the upper barrel band, and combination folding leaf rear sight graduated up to 500 yards with its base acting as a catch for the front of the breech lever. The breech lever has the two-line marking "J.H. MERRILL BALTO/PAT. JULY, 1858.", the lock is marked (very faint) "N.P. AMES/SPRINGFIELD/MASS." behind the hammer, and the top of the barrel at the breech is marked (faint) "Wm JENKS/USN/RC/P/1846". "GDM" (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock.

Condition: Fine, retaining 70% period refinished brown finish on the barrel with some light scratches. Case colored lock and breech lever showing patterns of muted case colors with some light surface pitting. Brass fittings polished bright. Stock is also fine as lightly sanded and re-oiled with a few light scratches and a few minor dents underneath the buttstock. Mechanically excellent. A scarce opportunity to own a U.S. Navy Jenks-Merrill carbine. These were produced in very limited numbers and missing from most U.S. military collections.