Civil War era Burnside Rifle Company Model 1864 Breech-Loading Percussion Carbine, .54 caliber, serial number 723, all visible numbers matching. Top of receiver marked "Burnside Patent/Model of 1864," lock plate marked "Burnside Rifle Co./Providence R.I.," top of barrel stamped "Cast Steel…", inspectors marks "V" and "F" to top of barrel near receiver, two incised star shapes to butt stock near plate, illegible cartouche to left side of grip. Walnut buttstock, round barrel, slightly curved butt plate, checkered hammer, steel front sight blade and a folding two-leaf rear sight, sling bar and ring mounted on the left side of the receiver, single sling swivel at the bottom of butt stock. Barrel length: 20". Overall length: 39 3/4". Manufactured between 1863 and 1865. Note: The Burnside carbine was the third most commonly used of the Civil War. The primary designer was Gen. Ambrose Burnside of Rhode Island. The Burnside was manufactured in Providence, Rhode Island and purchased in large numbers by the Federal government for issue to its cavalry regiments. Approximately 43,000 carbines of this model were manufactured and purchased by the Union Army from 1863-1865. (Source: Tennessee State Library and Archives).

PROVENANCE: Private Virginia Collection, acquired from John T. Hudson in Nashville in the early 1980s.

CONDITION: Expected pepper pitting to barrel and furniture, stock with dings and areas of natural age shrinkage, largest 5". Single sling swivel is stiff with minor areas of rust. Action holds at full and half cock. Bore is dirty with visible rifling. Some screws are slightly buggered.