Guns International #: 102932571
Seller's Inventory #: 8588

Category - Civil War Pistols - Antique Pistols - Percussion

Category
Civil War Pistols
Antique Pistols - Percussion

CIVIL WAR U.S. Springfield 1855 Pistol-Carbine

Description:

CIVIL WAR U.S. Springfield 1855 Pistol-Carbine

1 of ONLY 4,021 Made at SPRINGFIELD for CAVALRY

Here we present an antique Springfield Armory Model 1855 Pistol Carbine, made in 1855, six years prior to the outbreak of the American Civil War. Only 4,021 of these were made, making them very rare, especially considering that many would have been lost during the war. The concept was for all U.S. Army troops to have a common caliber, so that logistics would be simplified, and have a (massive) pistol that cavalry could use while mounted, with an attachable stock for use when on foot.

The chosen caliber was .58, and it utilized the cutting-edge cone-shaped Minié ball with the hollow base instead of ball. Also, relatively new and short-lived was the Maynard tape priming system, to which Springfield had purchased the rights. Instead of directly priming the nipple by hand for each shot, the user would simply install a roll of paper percussion caps, and a single cap would be exposed, sheared and carried by the hammer to detonate on the nipple. Of course, the standard rifle percussion caps could also be used. The ramrod is captive on a swivel, so that it was not easily lost in the field, with a hollow tip for pushing the Minié ball.

All of these features were included in this compact package to be issued to Cavalry and some Artillery, and it sounded like a brilliant idea. Then U.S. Secretary of War Jefferson Davis (soon to be President of the Confederate States of America) approved the adoption and production of the entire Model 1855 line of rifles, carbines and pistol carbines. However, reports from the field painted the pistol carbines as rather unwieldy, the tape primer system unreliable, and the carbine stock a detriment to accuracy. By this time, Colt had developed lines of very handy and reliable 6-shot revolvers and a plethora of breech-loading cartridge fed carbines would bring a swift end to production. Nevertheless, these very interesting weapons were very much utilized on both sides during the Civil War and are highly valued in the collector’s market today.

The Model 1855 is otherwise distinctive in U.S. Military firearms history for being the last single shot percussion pistol issued, as well as the only pistol other than the Model 1911 made in significant numbers by Springfield Armory.

The lock and barrel tang are both dated “1855”, the first year of a very limited production. There is a “6” stock number on the cap.

The overall condition is very good. The iron surfaces are dark with age. The markings are legible. The walnut stock is in very good shape with the area where the shoulder stock attached showing the imprint of the fixture. The bore is in good shape with clear rifling. The action is excellent, strong and crisp. Here is a fantastic example of a rare US small arm that saw action during the American Civil War!

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 12 inches.

Caliber: .58 Percussion

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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ancestryguns

$3250

#8588

Price: $3,250.00                     Buy Now

Antique: Yes