Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War
	Civil War Weapons, all pre 1898
	by Harry Ridgeway

Breechloader, Burnside carbine . Manufactured by Burnside Rifle Co., 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. Research Center: Weapon2060-Breechloader-Burnside . Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon2060-Breechloader-Burnside.html

Breechloader, Burnside single shot percussion carbine, 1856 patent date, lever not hinged, no forearm, 2nd model, .54cal. . Burnside carbine employed an unusual cone shaped metal cartridge for use in a percussion system. Burnside produced about 2,000 carbines of this model, serial numbers run approximately from about 300 to 2,300, marked with 1861 date on the barrel and with 1856 patent date on the frame, also known as 2nd model, however this is a collector term of convenience and not a contemporary designation. This model employed the single hinged loading lever. Manufactured by Burnside Rifle Co., 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. Marks on top of frame BURNSIDE PATENT / MARCH 25, 1856. Barrel is marked CAST STEEL 1861. Lock marked, BRISTOL FIREARM CO. . Serial number normally appears three times, on the top of the breech, top of the receiver, and bottom of the barrel. Standard features include: iron buttplate, no forearm, no bands, and no saddle riding bar, these all came with later models. Research Center: Weapon2062-Breechloader-Burnside-Carbine-Model-2 . Reference: Flayderman 9B-043. Barrel length 21in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon2062-Breechloader-Burnside-Carbine-Model-2.html

Breechloader, Burnside single shot percussion carbine, 1856 patent date, lever is hinged, 4th model, .54cal. . Burnside carbine employed an unusual cone shaped metal cartridge for use in a percussion system. Serial numbers were continued from earlier models to about 11,000, production estimated 1862 or 1863. The barrel is stamped Cast Steel 1862, the date is weak or missing on most, this because the long and narrow stamp had to be centered on a round barrel, apparently most were not centered. The frame is marked with 1856 patent date, side screw utilized in later models was not present. This is also known as 4th model, however this is a collector term of convenience. This model included some improvements over the earlier model, most notably the single hinged loading lever was replaced with a double hinged lever. The addition of this second hinge facilitated easier loading because the cartridge opening would be raised to near the top of the receiver versus its position lower on the third model, thus the cartridge was easier to insert. Manufactured by Burnside Rifle Co., 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. Marks on top of frame BURNSIDE PATENT / MARCH 25, 1856. Barrel is marked CAST STEEL 1862. 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. Standard features include: iron buttplate, single iron barrel band, saddle riding bar and ring on left side, strap hook on bottom of butt, 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. Research Center: Weapon2064-Breechloader-Burnside-Carbine-Model-4 . Reference: Flayderman 9B-045. Barrel length 21in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon2064-Breechloader-Burnside-Carbine-Model-4.html

Breechloader, Burnside single shot percussion carbine, 1856 patent date, lever is hinged with guide screw, 5th model, .54cal. . Burnside carbine employed an unusual cone shaped metal cartridge for use in a percussion system. Period literature refers to the Model 1863, although none are marked with this date and collectors have referred to the model generally as 5th model, however, that is a collector term of convenience and not a contemporary designation. This model was in the field during the 1864 cavalry campaigns. Serial numbers continued from 4th model to about 40,000 overall, production 1863 or 1864. This model represented only modest improvements over the earlier models, most notably being the placement of a guide screw on the right side in the middle of the receiver, this improvement facilitated smoother operation during loading. The loading lever was hinged starting with the 4th model, however the lever had a tendency to jam if not cleanly released. The addition of the guide screw enabled the hinged receiver to be raised or lowered without catching and jamming. The barrel is stamped Cast Steel, followed by a date, the date is weak or missing on most, this because the long and narrow stamp had to be centered on a round barrel, apparently most were not centered. Both the 1862 or the 1864 date seem to have been used. Manufactured by Burnside Rifle Co., 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. Marks on top of frame BURNSIDE PATENT / MARCH 25, 1856. Barrel is marked CAST STEEL (date usually obliterated) . 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 may be found on other parts. Standard features include: 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. Research Center: Weapon2065-Breechloader-Burnside-Carbine-Model-5 . Reference: Flayderman 9B-046. Barrel length 21in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon2065-Breechloader-Burnside-Carbine-Model-5.html

Breechloader, Burnside single shot percussion carbine, Model of 1864, lever is hinged with guide screw, .54cal. . Burnside carbine employed an unusual cone shaped metal cartridge for use in a percussion system. The Model of 1864 was the last percussion model produced by Burnside. This model has been described as 5th model (that is erroneous), or 6th model, however either of these designations are collector terms of convenience and not contemporary designations. Serial numbers were reset to zero and number to about 19000, production estimated 1864 and 1865. This model represented only modest changes from the earlier models, most notably being introduction of the 1864 model date, the trigger tang was lengthened and serial numbers reset. Use of the guide screw introduced with the 5th model was continued. The barrel is stamped Cast Steel 1864, the date may be weak or missing, this because the long and narrow stamp had to be centered on a round barrel, apparently most were not centered and the date at the end was simply lost. Manufactured by Burnside Rifle Co., 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. 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. Standard features include: iron buttplate, single iron barrel band, saddle riding bar and ring on left side, strap hook on bottom of butt, 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. Research Center: Weapon2066-Breechloader-Burnside-Carbine-Model-1864 . Reference: Flayderman 9B-046, Model of 1864. Barrel length 21in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon2066-Breechloader-Burnside-Carbine-Model-1864.html

This is the "Ridgeway Civil War Research Center", a research tool for educational purposes only, and is provided at no cost to the reader. Some of the relics listed are retained in the author's collection, most reside in other collections and are not owned by the author. None of the items listed in this section are for sale, please refer to relicman.com sales listings for items offered for sale. This is a work in progress, I list items as I get to them, there are many patterns that are not listed yet, this list will be regularly updated as I get pictures and descriptions for more items. I will also correct mistakes, so if you see any please tell me. All items listed are believed to be authentic to the Civil War or as otherwise described. Any excavated relics have been recovered from private property with owners permission.This information is available for research purposes, pictures may be used by permission only.

All weapons listed on this webpage are strictly manufactured before 1898, and are considered unsafe for actual use. These are antique collectible weapons of the Civil War (most are pre 1865, unless I state otherwise) and actual firing of these weapons is not recommended for any purpose whatsoever! Because these are all "pre 1898" weapons, no licenses are required for ownership, but common sense and good judgment should be applied.

Most information on this page is from:
Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms......
John Thillman series, "Civil War Cavalry & Artillery Sabers...", or "Civil War Army Swords....".

Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War Weapons Research center, weapons, click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon0000-Index.html. Research center, weapons, click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon0000-Index.html.

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