Model 1864 Burnside Carbine Rifle, Civil War Era, 5th Model, .54 Caliber
Item Details
A model 1864 Burnside carbine, manufactured by the Burnside Rifle Company., Providence, Rhode Island. General Ambrose Burnside, was an official in the company before the war but was not involved in wartime development of the weapon. The Burnside carbine employed an unusual cone shaped metal cartridge for use in a percussion system. Burnside produced about 43,000 carbines, serial numbers were apparently reset to zero and run to around 43,000 overall, barrel is marked 1864, frame is marked with 1864 patent date, a new side screw is employed, these are referred to as the ‘5th model’, however this is a collector term and not a contemporary designation. The confusion arises because Ordnance literature of the period refers to an ‘1863 model’, but none are actually marked with this designation. This model represented only modest improvements over the earlier models, most notably being the placement of a screw on the right side in the middle of the receiver. Standard features include a walnut stock, an iron buttplate, single iron barrel band, saddle riding bar and ring on left side, strap hook on bottom of butt, double hinged iron loading lever also serves as a trigger guard, hinged sight, chamber tapered for unique Burnside metal cartridge with a priming hole in the bottom for percussion. Marks on top of frame ‘BURNSIDE PATENT / MODEL OF 1864’. Barrel is marked ‘CAST STEEL 1864’. Lock marked ’BURNSIDE RIFLE CO. / PROVIDENCE = R. I. ’. Serial number normally appears three times, on the top of the breech, top of the receiver, and inside (can be viewed by opening the breech). Cartouches in the wood on the left side indicate government inspection, additional inspector marks on various parts. Barrel length 21in.
Condition
Appears to be functional, wear consistent with age. Please preview for the best sense of the piece.
Dimensions
Item #
13CIN036-244
Additional Information
