Texas Johnny
Corporal
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2019
- Location
- Texas
I intended the New Frontier Firearms Show in Dallas this weekend. Mostly Western firearms, lots of Winchesters, and memorabilia. There were at least two ACW dealers including Rebel Relics (Brian Atkins) and College Hill Arsenal (Tim Prince). I collect ACW carbines and Tim had a .50 caliber Gallagher with a good price on it. Since I didn't own a Gallagher it beckoned me to take it home and I did. It has a serial # of 13259, which Tim said he thought that number was around the time Gallagher carbines were issued to the 4th Tennessee Cavalry U.S. It was the sixth most purchased carbine by the U.S. Ordnance Department with a total of 22,728 purchased. The initial cartridge was of paper and foil, but due to gas leakage it was a nearly complete failure. It was replaced with a brass tube similar to the Burnside with a hole in the base. Early on the Gallagher was infamous for problems in removing the spent cartridge. To try to remedy the problem, a special combination tool was eventually issued with each Gallagher carbine to help with the extraction, unfortunately mine doesn't have the tool, although it does has a spare nipple in its' patch box. In 1864 with many complaints and 17,000 Gallagher carbines in U.S. service, the Ordnance Department approved additional cartridges for use with the Gallagher carbine, including the Poultney cartridge. in March of 1865 the U.S. Ordnance Department issued a contract to manufacture 5,000 Gallagher carbines adapted to fire the Spencer 56-52 rim fire metallic cartridge. To make this change a firing pin was installed in place of the percussion nipple and they also added a spent cartridge ejector. These Gallagher carbines were not delivered until May of 1865.