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 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

W0908 ### Breechloader, Burnside single shot percussion carbine, 1856 patent date, lever is hinged, 4th model, .54cal. (sn# 8736) . 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. Serial number, 8736.

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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