US Civil War Era Fifth Model Burnside Carbine

Description

The Burnside was America=s first metallic cartridge rifle and was produced in 5 models from 1857 through the end of the Civil War in 1865. It was designed initially by Ambrose Burnside, who later became a famous Civil War general, Rhode Island governor, and US senator. They used a unique tapered brass cartridge with .54 caliber bullet, with a small hole at the rear of the case and no internal primer. It would use a separate percussion cap mounted on a typical nipple for ignition. The First Model was primarily a prototype and Burnside provided an initial contract of 200 to the US Army. While the trials were successful, the time it took to produce the guns and the fact that nearly all of Burnside=s money had been used up caused him to sell the patent rights to Charles Jackson in 1859 who struggled with the company until the outbreak of the Civil War, which greatly increased the demand for the carbines. First, Second, and Third models are relatively scarce with only a few thousand produced in total, with production increasing to about 7,000 in the Fourth Model and 43,000 in the Fifth Model. Originally only four models of the Burnside were cataloged and most were actually Fifth Model Burnsides, also called the Model 1864, with the frame screw and breech block channel to regulate the movement of the breech block. The Fourth Model was the first with the hinged center section of the breech block, which made loading the cartridge easier, but lacked the frame guide screw and breech block channel of the Fifth Model. This Fifth Model has both the frame screw and guide channel and the mechanism functions flawlessly. Top of frame stamped with “BURNSIDE’S PATENT/MARCH 25^th 1856” (worn and only partially visible) and serial number 38203. Matching serial number on breech block. Lock plate marked “BURNSIDE RIFLE CO./PROVIDENCE=R.I.”. Hammer stamped “G”, hinged two-piece lever with “H” stamped on both pieces. Saddle bar and ring on left side of frame. Blued 20” round .54 caliber barrel, stamped “CAST STEEL 1864”, with “P” (partial strike) stamped at its base. Two-position folding leaf rear sight, fixed blade front sight. Walnut stock with “GC” inspector cartouche (George Curtis) and “ORJ” cartouche on left side. Sling swivel on butt stock. Fore stock secured by screw and single barrel band, with inspector initials “HWB”?. Iron butt plate, the tang stamped “C”. Retaining some original finish to the metal; rifling good; stock sound, with scattered dents from field use. Overall length 39 1/2”.