Burnside carbine.

[acebopper]

Hi all, new to this forum. I have just acquired a mint condition Burnside carbine, 5th model, my question is when the cartridge is inserted and the breech closed, is the sliding block at the rear of the breech block ment to move back all the way to the breech stop block. Mine moves back leaving about a one mm gap.
John

 

[hrobalabama]

I have never inserted a cartridge in mine. It closes up tightly though. It seems if there is a gap the gas leak would be severe.

Welcome to this august panel from way down South in Lower Alabama!

 

[leftyhunter]

Hi all, new to this forum. I have just acquired a mint condition Burnside carbine, 5th model, my question is when the cartridge is inserted and the breech closed, is the sliding block at the rear of the breech block ment to move back all the way to the breech stop block. Mine moves back leaving about a one mm gap.
John

Wow to actually own one I can't imagine what that is like . I have seen in my hometown (since Feb. anyway) Sharpes carbines going for 6k plus. Hopefully you got a great safe and a big mean dog. Just a little trivia on the Burnside Carbine. Burnside went broke due to the failure to sell enough carbines and he and his wife had to live in his old friends house (McCellan) until they could get back on their feet.
Leftyhunter

 

[Jobe Holiday]

acebopper - Yes, the rear section of the block is designed to move backwards when the block is closed with a cartridge in place. When the round is fired the case becomes pretty firmly attached to the chamber by recoil and gas pressure. When the block is opened the rear section actually cams the case forward that one mm you noticed, thereby breaking the case loose from the chamber. Once that is done the fired case is easily lifted out with ones fingers. Just as an FWIW, the center nose of the rear block, where the percussion cap flame passes through to ignite the cartridge, is made of Platinum!
J.

 

[hrobalabama]

It appears that your Burnside has had an attempt to re case color it.
That is not the original case color of the receiver and buttplate. The cartouches are not as deep as they would be on a mint Burnside. I have never seen a tompon on a Burnside. The blue is not as deep as it would be on an unissued one. But that aside is good to see one not all beat up. Have your fired it?

 

[Jobe Holiday]

Thank you hrobalabama, I wanted to say something, but I really don't like to tell someone I don't know that what they think is "near mint" is completely refinished, especially if they didn't ask! But now that it is out in the open, what purportes to be "case hardening colors" are actually coloring from a torch. And what you noted about the inspector's marks is spot on.
J.