Merrill Breech-loader

[RSMorris]

On a Merrill lock plate I know there were government purchases and private purchases. I have
seen some that have an eagle stamped on the plate and others that do not. By private purchases does that mean
they were sold to the public or would that be for states?
Several dealers including Horse Soldier has referenced them being used in the Civil War, and the one they were referencing did not have an eagle.

 

[Conquerordie]

I believe the Eagle was stamped on the 2nd Model Merill, and not the first. Both were purchased by the govt.

 

[RSMorris]

I believe the Eagle was stamped on the 2nd Model Merill, and not the first. Both were purchased by the govt.

Awesome thank you. I just bought a Merrill lock plate off ebay and was curious.

 

[RSMorris]

Is there any difference between the carbine lock plates and the rifle plates?

 

[Conquerordie]

I've been googling but can't find a difintive answer, but I would guess no. The frame/action and lock all look the same be they on one of the few rifles made, or the carbine.

 

[RSMorris]

I've been googling but can't find a difintive answer, but I would guess no. The frame/action and lock all look the same be they on one of the few rifles made, or the carbine.

I am now seeing Merrill lockplates that do not have the serial number on the tail of the lock and also do not have Harpers Ferry on the tail, but do have a production date.. I also keep reading about 770 Merrills that are rare being sold to the U.S. government. The ad has this line ... "This is an 1863-dated rifle, and is one of only 770 Merrill rifles purchased by the US Government during the Civil War." That particluar one does not have serial number nor does it have Harpers Ferry. So what is about this batch of rifles that makes them so rare. I thought all of 14000 were sold to the U.S. Government. I have read there 14000 of these made but I have seen two with a serial number of 16425 and 18790

 

[RodentRevolution]

I am now seeing Merrill lockplates that do not have the serial number on the tail of the lock and also do not have Harpers Ferry on the tail, but do have a production date.. I also keep reading about 770 Merrills that are rare being sold to the U.S. government. The ad has this line ... "This is an 1863-dated rifle, and is one of only 770 Merrill rifles purchased by the US Government during the Civil War." That particluar one does not have serial number nor does it have Harpers Ferry. So what is about this batch of rifles that makes them so rare. I thought all of 14000 were sold to the U.S. Government.

Maybe they mean it was actually delivered before war's end. An awful lot of the breechloading and repeating arms contracted by the US Government were not.

 

[RSMorris]

Maybe they mean it was actually delivered before war's end. An awful lot of the breechloading and repeating arms contracted by the US Government were not.

Here is a revision of one of my sentences above. Where is said "That particular one does not have serial number" I meant didn't have a serial number on the tail of the lock.
One thing I have cleared up is the 770 were rifles and the rest were carbines.

A note on these numbers. The serial numbers are just from Merrils I have found pics of. Looking for more to narrow down at exactly what serial numbers, changes were made.

I have found so far, 3 variants based on serial numbers. A note on these serial numbers. The serial numbers listed in the varients are the ones I have seen where there were changes. It does not mean that is where the change happened. The serial numbers will be narrowed down as more are found.

First variant:
serial number at tail of lock / No eagle
1 - 13032 ...Highest found so far
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Second variant:
Tail on date and no eagle
13093... lowest found so far
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Third variant:
Date on tail and eagle forward of the hammer.
13293 and subsequent. lowest number found so far.