Federal Gallagher

[tokashikibop]

Here is another picked carbine from Sunday, It's a Federal Gallagher. I have not wiped it down or cleaned it so it would look a bit better after cleaning. Don't know if you have one already, this one is a early war piece in the #4000 range, I think they sold 20K to the Yankees. Operates nice.

I'll have to look at those youtube videos to see how it was fired.

Best regards,
Bob

 

[kevikens]

Until just a short time ago I owned one of these. I think Erma made a repro a few years ago. They can be fired somewhat like a Smith with a brass reusable cartridge and percussion caps on the nipple. The cartridges are available on the net. The cartridges from the war were somewhat flimsy, more like a heavy foil material, and because of this were problematic to extract when fired. As a matter of fact there is no extractor. As you work the lever down, the breech slides forward for insertion of the cartridge. After firing the now empty cartridge can be grasped and pulled out. In the war the fired foil cartridges often came apart and were a major problem getting the pieces out of the breech. It is a very light arm and easy to carry.

 

[WJC]

Never saw one of these before! Thanks for sharing!

 

[UCVRelics]

Very Nice early model. The Gallagher carbine was patented by a South Carolinian before the war and was manufactured by Richardson & Overman, Philadelphia, Penn under Federal contract. It employed a unique loading system whereby the barrel slides forward during loading and utilized a percussion cartridge initially made of paper, later brass version had a hole in the bottom.

 

[Larryh86GT]

Nice looking piece. Thanks for sharing.

 

[captaindrew]

Nice

 

[mofederal]

I haven't seen one of these for years. I know it was a unique weapon, and the extraction problems were common. A nice find. Thanks for posting @wilkere.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

As a clarification, there is no "H" in Gallager, which is a common mistake made by the infamous "Spell Checker"! The cartridge extraction problem was so prevalent that each carbine came with a tool that was a combination cone wrench and extraction tool all in one. The carbines are common, the tool is very rare.
J.

 

[kevikens]

Also, if I recall correctly when I had mine I tried to find out to whom that carbine was issued. I think I remember it being issued to some West Virginia and Ohio regiments and also that one officer when questioned about its use replied that he found it worthless. I never tried to fire mine though it was in NRA V. Good condition. Probably from not going off very much.

 

[JOHN42768]

Very nice