Tracking down gun histories

[cwpvt100]

Good Morning!

I have a small personal collection and I am trying to run down some histories of my guns, they have so many stories to tell, it would be nice to know more about them. If anyone knows of a resource or a way to track down serial numbers it would be much appreciated, the ones I am going after are listed below. Any resources would be great!

Sharps & Hankins Army Carbine #2827
Smith Carbine #2874
Starr Carbine #35275 (altered to Cartridge with a #100 conversion serial number)
Colt 1860 Army Revolver #59370
Sharps Carbine #8239

Thanks!
Caleb

 

[Aussie Billy Sherman]

nice collection. itd be interesting to know their background

 

[cwpvt100]

I'll try to get some close-ups on them and posted.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

The Starr Carbines weren't conversions, they were new made as cartridge arms. Therefore, I am interested in what you are referring to as a "...#100 conversion serial number..."
Thank you for any information you can provide!
J.

 

[Patrick H]

Looks like a real nice collection. I'll be watching your thread.

 

[DSessom]

WOW! That's quite a collection! Nice presentation too!

 

[cwpvt100]

Thanks everyone! Jobe, From what i know there were the percussions and the cartridge production guns. There were also several percussion's that were converted in 1865 to fulfill a new contract for rim fire rounds, with the new receiver parts marked with a conversion number. I'll get some pics up, but part of the block was removed, and replaced to facilitate the rim fire cartridge.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

Cwpvt100 - I look forward to the additional information, thank you!
J.

 

[cwpvt100]

Additional pics

 

[cwpvt100]

Starr Carbine Percussion to rimfire conversion. Barrel has original serial number, in addition to 100 stamp, matching the 100 stamp on block parts. Overall, 3 separate 100 stamps on the piece. I'm looking for the notes on conversion contracts i had and will post Jobe. Oh also brass barrel band as on the percussion models.

 

[cwpvt100]

None of it is definitive, but it seems to make sense. The starrs overall do not seem to be well documented.

http://gunsmagazine.com/the-tragedy-of-the-starr-carbine/
"Interestingly, before the conclusion of the war, Starr successfully morphed their percussion model into a metallic cartridge carbine by changing out the breechblock, hammer and barrel."

Another interesting read.
http://www.scribd.com/mobile/doc/57...Conversion-to-Metallic-Cartridge-Breecloaders

 

[Jobe Holiday]

The GUNS Magazine article I have seen before, but a pleasant re-read anyway. I can't read the one from Scribd.com without joining for a free trial, which I'm not inclined to do at this time, but thanks for the links.

What caught my attention about your Starr is the high serial number of 35,275, which I believe is near the end of the cartridge models. A friend has a cartridge model, with the iron barrel band, and the serial number of 31,0xx. I am trying to get him to remove the forearm to see what is underneath, but he is reluctant to disturb the patina (closet dirt to me!) surrounding the band.
J.