Forum Host- Joined
- Aug 26, 2021
- Location
- North Carolina
Attended the Dalton show last weekend (my first ever Civil War show) hoping to find a nice representative carbine for my meager collection. I was blown away by all the items on display and for sale. Overwhelmed you might say. Just incredible. Like a kid in a candy store. Unfortunately my finances don't match my desires so I had to try to choose wisely.
I wasn't set on a particular model but from researching I was partial to the Smith carbine. It appears it was fairly reliable and well received and popular with both the Union units who used it and the Confederates who were fortunate enough to obtain one.
There were so many great looking carbines to choose from. First and second model Merrill's, pristine Maynards, lots of Burnsides in every condition, several Smiths, and a few Starrs and Gallaghers. Probably more but as I said I was just in awe of the size and scope of the show.
After much browsing I'd narrowed it down to a couple of vendors who seemed to have the best condition carbines in line with the prices I'd researched and my budget. I eventually chose a Smith carbine. What made it doubly special to me was that it had been captured/gathered by the Confederacy making it one that was used (or at least possessed) by both sides.
From my research:
The Smith was the 4th most purchased carbine by the US Government (surpassed only by the Spencer, Sharps and Burnside). The Smith carbine was the invention of Gilbert Smith, a physician of Buttermilk Falls, New York. He received 3 patents for the gun from 1855 to 1857. The commission agent for the Smith carbine was the firm of Poultney and Trimble of Baltimore Maryland, one of the largest importers of arms and military supplies in the United States. The initial government order for the Smith carbine was granted on February 9, 1860. The order was for 300 carbines at $35 each.
In 1860 an ordinance board of officers was convened at the Washington Arsenal to test fire small arms for future government usage. The board found the Smith the simplest breechloader presented at the trials. One Smith carbine fired 1000 times without apparent weakening of the spring. The board concluded by stating "this gun from its simplicity of construction, apparent strength of parts, the ease with which it is loaded and the general accuracy of firing recommends strongly, and is perfectly adapted to the mounted service. In view of these considerations the board entertains a more favorable opinion of this arm than any other breech-loading arm presented, and therefore recommends it to be adopted, to a limited extent, for further test and active service on a campaign."
The 300 Smith carbines ordered in February 1860 had not been delivered by the outbreak of the war. In August 1861, Poultney requested an order from the government for 10,000 Smith carbines at $35 each. The order was rejected by the chief of ordinance as being too expensive. At the time Sharps carbine's were being ordered at $30 each. The assistant secretary of war Thomas A. Scott wrote, "Sir: I have carefully considered the proposal to furnish 10,000 Smith breech-loading carbines at $35 each. I would gladly avail myself of any opportunity to obtain at this time, at any price not beyond reason, such arms as are required for the troops called into service. The carbine is only however a cavalry arm. It is used only by dragoons when dismounted and fighting on foot and the orders in the Division of the Potomac are to arm the cavalry with pistols and sabers only. There have been arrangements made already for procuring 17,000 carbines which number will be sufficient to arm all the troops for which such an arm properly pertains. I do not think therefore that there is an exigency existing for armaments to secure a large supply. The price I consider too high and the fact that $35 each was agreed to be paid for a small parcel of 300 does not apply to an order for large quantities. In view of all the circumstances are submitted whether it will be advisable to accept the proposition involving so large expenditure."
However, 10 days later General Ripley, the Chief of Ordnance, offered a contract For 10,000 Smith carbines and "appendages" at the rate of $32.50 each. The offered contract was accepted the next day. The appendages included a brush wiper, bullet mold, extra cone, cone wrench and screwdriver. Several other contracts were offered throughout the war ultimately producing 31,000 Smith breech-loading carbines.
The initial Smiths were manufactured by American Machine Works of Springfield Massachusetts and a few were also manufactured by the American Arms Company of Chicopee Falls. However the majority of the production was at the Massachusetts Arms Company of Chicopee Falls.
Most of the Smith carbines have a saddle bar ring on the left side of the frame. However, a few of the Smiths will have sling swivels mounted on the barrel band and under the butt stock. These carbines with the sling swirls are known by collectors as the "artillery model."
During an 1863-64 ordnance department survey of breech-loading carbines in the field for use, 86 officers reported on the Smith. The results were: 17 considered it as the best carbine in the service, 46 officers considered it as a good weapon, 11 considered fair, 4 considered poor and 8 considered it as worthless. Their major complaint was that the spring on top of the barrel broke most often.
The Smith carbine saw extensive service during the war having been issued to the 1st Massachusetts, 6th and 9th Ohio, 1st Connecticut, 7th and 17th Pennsylvania, 7th and 11th Illinois, and the 3rd West Virginia cavalry regiments. At the end of the war Calvarymen were mustered out of service. After having the cost of the Smith carbine deducted from their final pay 695 Smith were taken home by the men.
The Z stamp on the bottom of the butt stock is thought to represent Louis Zimmer, who was assigned to the Richmond Arsenal to supervise cleaning and repair (C&R) operations of weapons that were captured, battlefield pick-ups, or returned by Confederate units for repair. Zimmer directed the recovery of arms from the Wilderness and Spotsylvania battlefields and supervised the C&R work at the Richmond Arsenal from the fall of 1864 until early 1865. He was also assigned to the Richmond Arsenal from April 1863 until February 1864 but his specific duties there are undetermined.
According to the book Captured and Collected; Confederate Reissued Firearms by Stephen W Knott, "Federal breech-loading carbines became highly coveted by the Confederates in the wake of the Gettysburg campaign as the Southern Calvary faced an ever increasing deficit in mounted firepower as the war progressed. Consequently carbines recovered from the battlefield in 1864 for cleaning and repair became a prized commodity, best evidenced by the Ordinance Bureau authorizing the highest compensation of $75 for each breech loading carbine turned in by civilian scavengers. Since cavalry combat produced significantly fewer casualties, the availability of carbines remained less copious in comparison to the steady volume of infantry arms collected. Breech-loading carbines bearing a cleaning and repair inspection stamp are therefore uncommon."
I apologize for the long post. I attribute the information posted to the books "Carbines of the Civil War" by John McAulay, "US military Carbines" by John McAulay, and Captured and Collected; Confederate Reissued Firearms by Stephen W Knott.
Here is the carbine I purchased from a reputable and well-known dealer. You can see a picture of this carbine on the website http://azswords.com/
I wasn't set on a particular model but from researching I was partial to the Smith carbine. It appears it was fairly reliable and well received and popular with both the Union units who used it and the Confederates who were fortunate enough to obtain one.
There were so many great looking carbines to choose from. First and second model Merrill's, pristine Maynards, lots of Burnsides in every condition, several Smiths, and a few Starrs and Gallaghers. Probably more but as I said I was just in awe of the size and scope of the show.
After much browsing I'd narrowed it down to a couple of vendors who seemed to have the best condition carbines in line with the prices I'd researched and my budget. I eventually chose a Smith carbine. What made it doubly special to me was that it had been captured/gathered by the Confederacy making it one that was used (or at least possessed) by both sides.
From my research:
The Smith was the 4th most purchased carbine by the US Government (surpassed only by the Spencer, Sharps and Burnside). The Smith carbine was the invention of Gilbert Smith, a physician of Buttermilk Falls, New York. He received 3 patents for the gun from 1855 to 1857. The commission agent for the Smith carbine was the firm of Poultney and Trimble of Baltimore Maryland, one of the largest importers of arms and military supplies in the United States. The initial government order for the Smith carbine was granted on February 9, 1860. The order was for 300 carbines at $35 each.
In 1860 an ordinance board of officers was convened at the Washington Arsenal to test fire small arms for future government usage. The board found the Smith the simplest breechloader presented at the trials. One Smith carbine fired 1000 times without apparent weakening of the spring. The board concluded by stating "this gun from its simplicity of construction, apparent strength of parts, the ease with which it is loaded and the general accuracy of firing recommends strongly, and is perfectly adapted to the mounted service. In view of these considerations the board entertains a more favorable opinion of this arm than any other breech-loading arm presented, and therefore recommends it to be adopted, to a limited extent, for further test and active service on a campaign."
The 300 Smith carbines ordered in February 1860 had not been delivered by the outbreak of the war. In August 1861, Poultney requested an order from the government for 10,000 Smith carbines at $35 each. The order was rejected by the chief of ordinance as being too expensive. At the time Sharps carbine's were being ordered at $30 each. The assistant secretary of war Thomas A. Scott wrote, "Sir: I have carefully considered the proposal to furnish 10,000 Smith breech-loading carbines at $35 each. I would gladly avail myself of any opportunity to obtain at this time, at any price not beyond reason, such arms as are required for the troops called into service. The carbine is only however a cavalry arm. It is used only by dragoons when dismounted and fighting on foot and the orders in the Division of the Potomac are to arm the cavalry with pistols and sabers only. There have been arrangements made already for procuring 17,000 carbines which number will be sufficient to arm all the troops for which such an arm properly pertains. I do not think therefore that there is an exigency existing for armaments to secure a large supply. The price I consider too high and the fact that $35 each was agreed to be paid for a small parcel of 300 does not apply to an order for large quantities. In view of all the circumstances are submitted whether it will be advisable to accept the proposition involving so large expenditure."
However, 10 days later General Ripley, the Chief of Ordnance, offered a contract For 10,000 Smith carbines and "appendages" at the rate of $32.50 each. The offered contract was accepted the next day. The appendages included a brush wiper, bullet mold, extra cone, cone wrench and screwdriver. Several other contracts were offered throughout the war ultimately producing 31,000 Smith breech-loading carbines.
The initial Smiths were manufactured by American Machine Works of Springfield Massachusetts and a few were also manufactured by the American Arms Company of Chicopee Falls. However the majority of the production was at the Massachusetts Arms Company of Chicopee Falls.
Most of the Smith carbines have a saddle bar ring on the left side of the frame. However, a few of the Smiths will have sling swivels mounted on the barrel band and under the butt stock. These carbines with the sling swirls are known by collectors as the "artillery model."
During an 1863-64 ordnance department survey of breech-loading carbines in the field for use, 86 officers reported on the Smith. The results were: 17 considered it as the best carbine in the service, 46 officers considered it as a good weapon, 11 considered fair, 4 considered poor and 8 considered it as worthless. Their major complaint was that the spring on top of the barrel broke most often.
The Smith carbine saw extensive service during the war having been issued to the 1st Massachusetts, 6th and 9th Ohio, 1st Connecticut, 7th and 17th Pennsylvania, 7th and 11th Illinois, and the 3rd West Virginia cavalry regiments. At the end of the war Calvarymen were mustered out of service. After having the cost of the Smith carbine deducted from their final pay 695 Smith were taken home by the men.
The Z stamp on the bottom of the butt stock is thought to represent Louis Zimmer, who was assigned to the Richmond Arsenal to supervise cleaning and repair (C&R) operations of weapons that were captured, battlefield pick-ups, or returned by Confederate units for repair. Zimmer directed the recovery of arms from the Wilderness and Spotsylvania battlefields and supervised the C&R work at the Richmond Arsenal from the fall of 1864 until early 1865. He was also assigned to the Richmond Arsenal from April 1863 until February 1864 but his specific duties there are undetermined.
According to the book Captured and Collected; Confederate Reissued Firearms by Stephen W Knott, "Federal breech-loading carbines became highly coveted by the Confederates in the wake of the Gettysburg campaign as the Southern Calvary faced an ever increasing deficit in mounted firepower as the war progressed. Consequently carbines recovered from the battlefield in 1864 for cleaning and repair became a prized commodity, best evidenced by the Ordinance Bureau authorizing the highest compensation of $75 for each breech loading carbine turned in by civilian scavengers. Since cavalry combat produced significantly fewer casualties, the availability of carbines remained less copious in comparison to the steady volume of infantry arms collected. Breech-loading carbines bearing a cleaning and repair inspection stamp are therefore uncommon."
I apologize for the long post. I attribute the information posted to the books "Carbines of the Civil War" by John McAulay, "US military Carbines" by John McAulay, and Captured and Collected; Confederate Reissued Firearms by Stephen W Knott.
Here is the carbine I purchased from a reputable and well-known dealer. You can see a picture of this carbine on the website http://azswords.com/
Last edited:
Bringing the