Colt M1855 carbine

[bravo30]

I just inherited this Colt from a family member and im in the process of researching it (not selling it..keeping it). the rifle itself doesnt seem to have any marks beside the number '1041'' on the but and the other on the trigger guard no other markings that i can see. No address on top by the rear site either.... 5 shot cylinder and saddle ring would indicate Military if im not mistaken.

what do you guys think ?

 

[Private Watkins]

She's a beaut!! I love the Colts rifles/carbines, have always wanted one... Wonderful treasure you have there...

 

[Booner]

Very nice. What's the family history?

 

[bravo30]

Very nice. What's the family history?

only info i have on it is that it was with Pennsylvania Railroad company ... or purported to be. would railroads have access to these types of weapons?.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

Congratulations on being the family member to care for this very rare Colt Carbine!
J.

 

[originalrebelyell]

Very nice !!! a beauty

 

[Michael W.]

You struck gold with that inheritance piece! Colt revolving carbines are very hard to come by. Does the action still work? What a wonderful item!

 

[MRB1863]

Your carbine is a wonderful inheritance item! What a beautiful wall hanger!!! Would be a shame to stash it away where it would be unseen.

 

[photoman475]

Railroads have had their own police forces for ages. It is possible that the Pennsylvania RR could have purchased these for their police, particularly in the 1870s and 1880s with all the labor strikes and unrest. While I am not aware that any railroad had Colts like this, it is possible.

Railroad police today are sworn officers, the same as cities and counties. They can be in marked squad cars or not, same as city or county forces. You have a great treasure there!

 

[bravo30]

You struck gold with that inheritance piece! Colt revolving carbines are very hard to come by. Does the action still work? What a wonderful item!

trigger/hammer function but the cylinder doesnt .....(cylinder doesnt rotate when the hammer is pulled back)

 

[Borderruffian]

Railroads have had their own police forces for ages. It is possible that the Pennsylvania RR could have purchased these for their police, particularly in the 1870s and 1880s with all the labor strikes and unrest. While I am not aware that any railroad had Colts like this, it is possible.

Railroad police today are sworn officers, the same as cities and counties. They can be in marked squad cars or not, same as city or county forces. You have a great treasure there!

While they are comissioned and trained LEO's their duties only extend to crimes comitted against RR property or on RR property, to go off RR property they need to liason with Muni, County,or State LEA's, so that has changed .

 

[originalrebelyell]

trigger/hammer function but the cylinder doesnt .....(cylinder doesnt rotate when the hammer is pulled back)

Sounds like the hand is worn that turns the cylinder.

 

[Borderruffian]

Sounds like the hand is worn that turns the cylinder.

Probably needs a new prawl

 

[Private Watkins]

It's interesting that it has a full length ramrod under the barrel in addition to the cylinder rammer, but I guess that's how they made them, just not sure why... Maybe as a back-up plan for a jammed cylinder...?

Here's what looks to be a comparable carbine that was sold over at College Hill Arsenal; Tim Prince does a really nice job on his write-ups and photos... I always learn something reading his descriptions.
https://www.collegehillarsenal.com/shop/product.php?productid=289

Might be interesting to compare the specs & details of your carbine with the one that Tim describes, and then report back to us on whether yours might be one of only 62 Revolving Artillery carbines that Colt made...

 

[Jobe Holiday]

The rod under the barrel is not a ram rod, but rather a cleaning rod. The reason it appears to be short is because there was a cleaning brush housed inside a compartment in the butt plate, which when attached to the rod made the entire unit long enough to do the job!
J.

 

[Private Watkins]

The rod under the barrel is not a ram rod, but rather a cleaning rod. The reason it appears to be short is because there was a cleaning brush housed inside a compartment in the butt plate, which when attached to the rod made the entire unit long enough to do the job!
J.

Thanks for the explanation...!

 

[bravo30]

The rod under the barrel is not a ram rod, but rather a cleaning rod. The reason it appears to be short is because there was a cleaning brush housed inside a compartment in the butt plate, which when attached to the rod made the entire unit long enough to do the job!
J.

just checked for the cleaning brush and it isnt there ..............reading the tim prince article now.

 

[bravo30]

It's interesting that it has a full length ramrod under the barrel in addition to the cylinder rammer, but I guess that's how they made them, just not sure why... Maybe as a back-up plan for a jammed cylinder...?

Here's what looks to be a comparable carbine that was sold over at College Hill Arsenal; Tim Prince does a really nice job on his write-ups and photos... I always learn something reading his descriptions.
https://www.collegehillarsenal.com/shop/product.php?productid=289
View attachment 93973

Might be interesting to compare the specs & details of your carbine with the one that Tim describes, and then report back to us on whether yours might be one of only 62 Revolving Artillery carbines that Colt made...

similarities between my rifle and an artillery carbine

-1 barrel clamp
-wooden fore end with brass nose cap
-bayonet lug mounted on the right side of the barrel .
-5 shot cylinder

Differences:

- Bayonet key measures 3 3/8'' long as opposed to 2 7/8'' on the ''artillery carbine''
- Barrel length is 21'' as opposed to 24'' on the ''artillery carbine'' .....although the carbine sold by college arsenal also had a 21'' barrel.

 

[bravo30]

everything is pointing to artillery carbine. if not, would it be plausible that it was modified in the field to resemble one?

 

[Private Watkins]

similarities between my rifle and an artillery carbine

-1 barrel clamp
-wooden fore end with brass nose cap
-bayonet lug mounted on the right side of the barrel .
-5 shot cylinder

Differences:

- Bayonet key measures 3 3/8'' long as opposed to 2 7/8'' on the ''artillery carbine''
- Barrel length is 21'' as opposed to 24'' on the ''artillery carbine'' .....although the carbine sold by college arsenal also had a 21'' barrel.

I'm thinking you have an Artillery Carbine... Tim Prince even mentioned there were numerous variations, and the preponderance of the evidence seems to point to this being one... that's really awesome, congratulations!

You may not be interested, but if you ever wanted to pursue I know that Tim will perform an assessment/appraisal for a fee; I had him do that once for one of my pieces, and I was really pleased with the results and the very thorough evaluation & documentation that he provided.