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ORIGINAL .54 CALIBER TOMPION – VERY DESIRABLE
SOLDIER CARVED TO IDENTIFY HIS RIFLE: Far
scarcer than the .58 caliber Tompions normally
encountered, this .54 caliber Tompion was issued with
the famous Model 1841 Mississippi Rifles in the
pre-Civil War years and on through the war. Each
soldier was issued one of these to prevent debris and
moisture from getting into the barrel of his rifle.
Adding to the value of this specimen is the soldier
applied carving to the bulbous head to allow the soldier
to readily and quickly identify his rifle in a stack of
arms. There is a cross carved in the top of the
head and notches spaced around the outer curve.
Years ago these carved tompions were actively sought
after as one of the earliest examples of war time
soldier “trench art” and they have all but disappeared
from today’s market. This .54 caliber specimen and
a carved .58 caliber tompion (shown in a separate
listing in this section) were recently found in a very
old collection, and it is a real pleasure to be able to
list this special offering. Despite the obvious
evidence of issue and use, this tompion is in very good
to excellent condition and will be a very nice addition
to your collection.
SOLD
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