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, Hall rifle or carbine. . Manufactured by Harper's Ferry Arsenal using John Hall's patent. Research Center: Weapon2185-Breechloader-Hall . Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon2185-Breechloader-Hall.html

Breechloader, Hall smoothbore breech-loading flintlock rifle, Model 1819 Second Production, Hall 1832, converted to percussion 1860's, .52cal. . Hall carbines and rifles represented the first breech loader adopted as a primary military arm and was years ahead of the carbines that would eventually follow. This Second Production was manufactured 1826 to 1838 at Harpers Ferry arsenal using John Hall's patent. A number were in the arsenals by the Civil War, most of the conversions to percussion occurred during the war and were conducted by both sides. The forward lever unlatches the breech block which opens upward, the wide middle allows room for this to work, and although awkward by later standards, it was an effective weapon. Rifle is single shot .52 cal breech loader. Manufactured by Harper's Ferry Arsenal using John Hall's patent. Mark on breech: J H HALL / H FERRY / US / 1832. Standard features include: iron buttplate with flat shoulder, iron trigger guard with a rear grip, forward lever opens the breechblock, breech block is case hardened, fixed iron sight, two flat bands held by pins, iron nose cap serves as a pin, two strap hooks on trigger guard and second band, barrel is rifled to within 1.5 in of the muzzle and has 15 lands and grooves, ramrod with button head and threads is used for cleaning. Research Center: Weapon2185-Breechloader-Hall-Rifle . Reference: Flayderman 9A-249. Round barrel length 32 5/8in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon2185-Breechloader-Hall-Rifle.html

Breechloader, Hall smoothbore percussion carbine, Model 1843 Hall - North, 1843, .52cal. . Hall carbines and rifles representedthe earliest military effort to develop a breechloader, these shorter carbines, although made in smoothbore, were percussion primed from the beginning, this was the last in the series, manufactured by Simeon North, Middletown Connecticut, 1843 to 1853. A thumb lever on the right was used to pivot the entire breech above the barrel for loading, with a gas release hole below the breech to vent on firing. Carbine is single shot .52 cal smoothbore breechloader. Manufactured by Harper's Ferry Arsenal using John Hall's patent. Mark on top of frame: U.S. / S. NORTH / MIDLTN / CONN / 1843. Additional inspector mark JCL on barrel. Standard features include: iron buttplate with flat shoulder, iron trigger guard, thumb lever opens the breechblock, fixed iron sight, one flat band held by pins, iron nose cap serves as second band, saddle bar with riding ring, ramrod with button head and threads is used for cleaning. Research Center: Weapon2186-Breechloader-Hall-Carbine-1843 . Reference: Flayderman 9A-277. Barrel length 21in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon2186-Breechloader-Hall-Carbine-1843.html

Breechloader, Hall smoothbore percussion carbine, Model 1843, Hall - North, 1848, .52cal. . Hall carbines and rifles represented the earliest military effort to develop a breechloader, these shorter carbines, although made in smoothbore, were percussion primed from the beginning, this was the last in the series, manufactured by Simeon North, Middletown Connecticut, 1843 to 1853. A thumb lever on the right was used to pivot the entire breech above the barrel for loading, with a gas release hole below the breech to vent on firing. Carbine is single shot .52 cal smoothbore breechloader. Manufactured by Harper's Ferry Arsenal using John Hall's patent. Mark on top of frame: U.S. / S. NORTH / MIDLTN / CONN / 1848 marks are weak. Top of barrel is marked STEEL Additional inspector mark JH on barrel. Standard features include: iron buttplate with flat shoulder, iron trigger guard, thumb lever opens the breechblock, fixed iron sight, one flat band held by pins, iron nose cap serves as second band, saddle bar with riding ring, ramrod with button head and threads is used for cleaning. Research Center: Weapon2186-Breechloader-Hall-Carbine-1848 . Reference: Flayderman 9A-277. Barrel length 21in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon2186-Breechloader-Hall-Carbine-1848.html

Breechloader, Hall smoothbore percussion carbine, Model 1843, Hall - North, 1850, converted to rifled, .58cal. . Hall carbines and rifles represented the earliest military effort to develop a breechloader, these shorter carbines, although made in smoothbore, were percussion primed from the beginning, this was the last in the series, manufactured by Simeon North, Middletown Connecticut, 1843 to 1853. A thumb lever on the right was used to pivot the entire breech above the barrel for loading, with a gas release hole below the breech to vent on firing. Carbine was originally configured as a single shot .52 cal smoothbore breechloader. . During August 1861, a number of these carbines, now obsolete as a smoothbore, were converted to .58 caliber rifled, this was done under contract for General Fremont, the contract became the subject of a major scandal due to excessive profiteering by the contractor, referred to as the Hall Carbine Affair at the time. Manufactured by Harper's Ferry Arsenal using John Hall's patent. Mark on top of frame: U.S. / S. NORTH / MIDLTN / CONN / 1850. Top of barrel is marked STEEL Additional inspector mark JCB on barrel. Standard features include: iron buttplate with flat shoulder, iron trigger guard, thumb lever opens the breechblock, fixed iron sight, one flat band held by pins, iron nose cap serves as second band, saddle bar with riding ring, ramrod with button head and threads is used for cleaning. Research Center: Weapon2186-Breechloader-Hall-Carbine-1850 . Reference: Flayderman 9A-278. Barrel length 21in. Details click: http://relicman.com/weapons/Weapon2186-Breechloader-Hall-Carbine-1850.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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