Starr Arms Percussion Capping Breach Loader Cavalry Carbine, fine. SN X3045

A Fine Starr Arms Percussion Capping Breach Loader Cavalry Carbine. 37 ½” overall, 21” 54 calibre 5 groove rifled round barrel, blade fore sight, screwed on fixed rear sight. The top of the barrel marked ‘STARR ARMS Co YONKERS, N.Y.’, top of action stamped ‘Starrs Patent Sept 15 1858’. The back action lock stamped ‘STARR ARMS Co / YONKERS, N.Y.’ Large flat hammer, combination trigger guard /opening leaver, the left side of the barrel stamped ‘H.G.S.’. Two piece walnut stock with faint cartouche on L/H side [PJB ] brass butt plate and barrel band, swivel ring. Serial number 8515. Circa 1863                                                                    
In very good condition. Most original finish, very good bore.

About 20,000 of these Starr percussion Carbines in .54 Calibre were bought by the Union during the Civil War, issued to Western troops including the 1^st Ark. 5^TH Kansas,11^th Missouri and 24^th NY regiments. These were rated by the government as better weapons than the Sharps carbines, but had a poor reputation with the troops, mostly due to ammunition problems.