Discussion Starr Carbine

[jerryaustin]

Contemplating purchasing this Starr Carbine. Got me to thinking about a bullet mold, if I do end up getting it. Anyone out there casting bullets for the Starr Carbine? I am interested in a mold that is as close to the original Starr bullet as I can get. Also, any comments on the Carbine ne would be appreciated.

 

[johan_steele]

Get a Starr carbine, pistol (4 models), M1817 Rifle and Musket and with just 7 items you have a complete Starr collection. The hardest to find would probably be a Starr M1817 Rifle.

 

[Texas Johnny]

Get a Starr carbine, pistol (4 models), M1817 Rifle and Musket and with just 7 items you have a complete Starr collection. The hardest to find would probably be a Starr M1817 Rifle.

Johan, pardon my ignorance, I am familiar with the Starr M1858 Navy, M1858 Army, and the M1863 Army, but is the 4th pistol their 1856 Pepperbox (extremely rare) or is there another one that I am leaving out? Thanks!

 

[johan_steele]

Johan, pardon my ignorance, I am familiar with the Starr M1858 Navy, M1858 Army, and the M1863 Army, but is the 4th pistol their 1856 Pepperbox (extremely rare) or is there another one that I am leaving out? Thanks!

I think that is correct about the Pepperbox, I don't actually remember all the model numbers. There was a display years ago at a show where a collector had a complete Starr collection. Honestly, I was most interested in the M1817 and M1816 as carbines and pistols aren't really my thing. He had started with pistols and decided to create a complete collection and said the hardest to find had been the Starr M1817.

Technically there were two carbines as one was percussion and one rimfire. Three percussion revolvers (perhaps more if you count DA vs SA) and the little 4 shot pepperbox.
The Starr M1816 Musket and M1817 Rifle are my favorites.

 

[Texas Johnny]

I think that is correct about the Pepperbox, I don't actually remember all the model numbers. There was a display years ago at a show where a collector had a complete Starr collection. Honestly, I was most interested in the M1817 and M1816 as carbines and pistols aren't really my thing. He had started with pistols and decided to create a complete collection and said the hardest to find had been the Starr M1817.

Technically there were two carbines as one was percussion and one rimfire. Three percussion revolvers (perhaps more if you count DA vs SA) and the little 4 shot pepperbox.
The Starr M1816 Musket and M1817 Rifle are my favorites.

Thanks Johan!

 

[ConfederateCanuck]

Re bullets, go to the NSSA Forums. I found lots of useful stuff on Burnside Carbine bullets, molds, powder charges, etc. I'm sure you'll find stuff on the Starr.

e.g. I found some NSSA posts by doing a simple Google search using the words "NSSA Starr Carbine bullet mold".

 

[jerryaustin]

This Spencer has a SN of 2989. It also has two inspector cartouches on the stock. Anyone with any idea when this carbine was manufactured?

 

[JOHN42768]

Oct.--Nov. 1863 per John McAuley "Carbines of the Civil War". Post as clear a photo of the cartouche as you can. Mine (1353) has EF for Edward Flather. 20602 total produced.

 

[jerryaustin]

Oct.--Nov. 1863 per John McAuley "Carbines of the Civil War". Post as clear a photo of the cartouche as you can. Mine (1353) has EF for Edward Flather. 20602 total produced.

I'm just beginning to learn about the Spencer Carbine, so I am not yet that knowledgeable. However, I thought this was an 1865 model Spencer that started production in 1865. It has a 20 inch barrel and it is a .50 caliber.

 

[jerryaustin]

I'm just beginning to learn about the Spencer Carbine, so I am not yet that knowledgeable. However, I thought this was an 1865 model Spencer that started production in 1865. It has a 20 inch barrel and it is a .50 caliber.

 

[jerryaustin]

I apologize, but I have been conflating two different carbines in the same thread. I started out asking about a Starr and then asked about a Spencer SN 2989. So, is the date of manufacture provided for the Spenser?

 

[jerryaustin]

I apologize, but I have been conflating two different carbines in the same thread. I started out asking about a Starr and then asked about a Spencer SN 2989. So, is the date of manufacture provided for the Spenser?

The Starr Carbine has a SN of 18710.

 

[JOHN42768]

I apologize, but I have been conflating two different carbines in the same thread. I started out asking about a Starr and then asked about a Spencer SN 2989. So, is the date of manufacture provided for the Spenser?

No, I thought you were asking about a Starr 2989

 

[JOHN42768]

Starr 18710 would be July-Aug. 1864

 

[jerryaustin]

Starr 18710 would be July-Aug. 1864

Thank you so much. Do you have a reading on the Spencer SN 2989? Again, I think this is a 1865 Spencer. It has a 20 inch barrel. .50 cal.

 

[jerryaustin]

Starr 18710 would be July-Aug. 1864

I purchased Carbines of the Civil War. On page 50, is the production data for the Starr Carbine. Is there an error there? When I add up the individual orders, I get 26,602 instead of what the book says, which is 25,602. They're off by 1000, So, using my total, it looks like SN 18710 would have been manufactured around March 9th, 1865. That assumes a SN start of 00001 in July 30th, 1863 and consecutively number after that. What am I missing?

 

[JOHN42768]

I guess first of all date of manufacture will never be known. The listing are date of purchase which in reality are the date the government accepted shipment and not production dates. Your March 1865 date would have been around serial 23K range and a N.M. cartridge type instead of percussion . I'll stick with July, 1864

 

[jerryaustin]

I guess first of all date of manufacture will never be known. The listing are date of purchase which in reality are the date the government accepted shipment and not production dates. Your March 1865 date would have been around serial 23K range and a N.M. cartridge type instead of percussion . I'll stick with July, 1864

You are probably right. Just trying to understand the table on page 50. So, are you saying the brass cartridge Starr carbines started around March 9, 1865 as denoted by N.M. Carbines. Did the serial numbers for these metallic cartridge Starrs start over at SN 1? There is still a discrepancy in the entries and total on page 50. If I add up all the numbers, I get 26,602, not 25,602.

 

[JOHN42768]

I don't believe serial numbers started over in the N.M., but can't confirm that. I would not worry about the math as yours is in the 18k range. Just start adding from top of list till you reach 18k range.

 

[leftyhunter]

Contemplating purchasing this Starr Carbine. Got me to thinking about a bullet mold, if I do end up getting it. Anyone out there casting bullets for the Starr Carbine? I am interested in a mold that is as close to the original Starr bullet as I can get. Also, any comments on the Carbine ne would be appreciated.

View attachment 434165

I read a while back that per the original Ordinance report of test firing the Starr carbine was rated as good as the Sharps. The Starr was issued to among other regiments the 2nd Colorado and 1st Arkansas Cavalry Union and saw a lot of use with these key counterinsurgency units.
Leftyhunter