The pre Brunside Carbine.

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In the small waterfront town of Bristol, Rhode Island, a new gunsmith shop opened in 1853/54 and prepared to produce a new type of gun envisioned by A. E. Burnside.

G.P. Foster was hired, a well know regional gunsmith, to manage, produce, repair and make on demand guns and parts for the public while working on a NEW advanced military weapon designed by Burnside.

First picture below
A very early Bristol Fire Arm(s) Co. letter head showing G.P. Foster Rifles and locks made available for sale while working on 'the carbine project'.

Second picture
Shows one of the first Foster rifles made in Bristol side by side with one of the first model Burnside Carbine produced in same shop!

G.P. Foster serial #47
Burnside #37
Both built only months apart.

steve
SEJET

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[SEJET]

Bristol made 2nd model Burnside Carbine (2a)

George P. Foster's name and pattern appears on the now imporved G. P. Foster patented breech-latch. This very early Bristol made 2nd model Carbine (2a) is serial number 356.

The government purchased 200 of the first model carbines from Burnside's company on April 21, 1856 for $30 per carbine and ordered 709 model 2a carbines from the Bristol Fire Arms Company on September 21, 1858 for $35 per carbine. At this point, Ambrose Burnside was still involved with his company.