- Joined
- Jul 12, 2015
Patent for Morse breech-loading firearm (Atlanta History Center)
George Morse invented the brass framed breech loading .50 caliber carbine. His unique breech loading system used a cartridge of his own design that contained ball, powder and percussion cap in a single center fire cartridge, much like those in use today. When the carbine was fired, the cartridge was extracted when opening the breech and another pre-charged cartridge was ready for insertion. This relatively rapid firing carbine would have helped the Confederate cavalry to compete with the Spencer carbines issued to Northern cavalry, but the carbine had a downside. They could only use the unique self contained center fire cartridge that Morse had invented, so keeping them supplied with ammunition was a major problem.
Morse invented the carbine and the cartridge that it fired; he also invented a cartridge box specifically made to carry the unique center fire cartridges. An example of his cartridge box and belt is shown here. Two leather boxes, each containing twelve individually soldered tin tubes were mounted on a very coarse woven cartridge box belt. The twenty-four cartridges were placed into the tubes on a bed of cotton.
http://jamesdjulia.com/item/lot-1182-morse-carbine-cartridge-boxes-and-belt-31346/
MORSE CARBINE CARTRIDGE BOXES AND BELT. This is a very rarely encountered rig. No more than a handful of orig Morse cartridge box belts & cartridge boxes survive. Consists of 2 cartridge boxes, about 11″ x 4″ each, each holding 12 tin tubes. Each tube would have held a Morse cartridge. The 2 boxes are suspended on a canvas belt, by pairs of brass belt loops. Belt is in very good condition overall, being complete with leather end and roller buckle. Leather tab at other end is complete. Cartridge boxes have tarred flaps. One box appears complete with all 12 compartments sealed with their tin tubes. This box contains both tabs. The second box retains all 12 tubes; however, the leather compartments in this box have much deterioration and 5 or 6 of the tin tubes are loose. This box has one complete tab, and one is broken off. Regardless, this is a spectacular belt and set of boxes. We have offered one set a few years ago, but the condition on this set is superior. Mr. Michel's Notes State: "The Morse carbines were issued with a unique pair of cartridge boxes. Each box, made of leather, holds twelve tin tubes in twelve loop pockets. The two boxes are suspended on a web belt by pairs of brass loops. Rare, to say the least, this set is one found in a crate marked for "20 Morse's carbines improved"." PROVENANCE: Ben Michel collection. CONDITION: Belt is sound and complete, though canvas belt is soiled. Leather retaining roller buckle is sound and complete. Leather tongue is complete and sound with crazing and mottling and scuffing. Leather surfaces on belt retain most of their orig surfaces. Both boxes exhibit crazing and mottling of surfaces with scuffing and chipping, especially on back of the lesser conditioned box. Interior of the lesser conditioned box is flaking, and much of the leather covering of the tin tubes is very fragile. Coverings for two of the tin tubes is totally missing, though all tin tubes are intact and present.
Approximately one thousand of these advanced carbines were manufactured. The advanced breech loading system was made possible by the advanced centerfire cartridge. The cartridge is virtually identical to those we use today. The only difference was that instead of the "cap" having a pressed fit, it was held snugly in place by squeezing the cone on the inside of the cap and by being squeezed by an "India rubber" washer on the outside. This must have worked well because there were no complaints from the inspectors on this score. Morse's weapon was far ahead of its time, too far it seems, because cartridge manufacture techniques lagged behind. The problems of securing enough of its center fire metallic cartridges proved insurmountable. Production ended in late 1864, when the machinery was relocated to the Confederate arsenal at Columbia, South Carolina. Consequently, the cartridges for these guns are extremely rare.
The example shown here is in beautiful condition, even retaining its percussion cap though the rubber washer long ago crumbled to dust. The ball remains firmly seated and tight.
Bringing the