1862 Tower VS Cook & Bros Carbine

[R. McAuley 3014V]

Just curious to see if anyone else here agrees that this 1862 Tower artillery carbine is perhaps a Cook & Bros carbine disguised as a Tower? Notice the bolster shape, the Damascus twist barrel with tombstone backsight and "PROVE[D]" on left barrel flat, high comb of the stock, long trigger plate tang, brass bands, pinched front sight, serial number "5599" on breech, and 21-inch barrel length -- with auction estimate of $900-$1400 --- of course, it's was SOLD in 2014.

http://www.rockislandauction.com/viewitem/aid/62/lid/95



Reference images:

http://www.collegehillarsenal.com/shop/product.php?productid=1773&cat=13&page=1

http://civilwar.si.edu/weapons_cookcarbine.html#

[MarkTK36thIL]

Good eyes. I think it could be, especially the marked screws and barrel bands. I wonder if it was a wartime or post-war fix. If only we could see the backside of the gun!

[ms3635v]

I am curious about the front sight, could it have been re-shaped after the war?

[Southron Sr.]

The comb of the stock is a dead giveaway. Yup, it is a Cook & Brother with a Tower lock. I used to own two original Cook & Brother guns, so I know what to look for.

When the company was in New Orleans, supposedly Cook & Brother imported British made Enfield parts and incorporated those parts into the guns they were assembling. That might be the case with this particular arm and a Tower lock was used.

The ramrod was probably added in the post-war era as that is not a C & B ramrod.