This is an about VERY GOOD condition example of the US Model 1855 Pistol Carbine. The Pistol Carbine was a classic example of the pre-Civil War US Ordnance Department’s inability to be forward thinkers and look at current and emerging technology when it came to firearms design. Even though much more advanced breech loading carbines and revolvers were already in use by the US military, like the Jenks Naval Carbine, the several models of Sharps’ patent carbines and various Colt’s patent repeating revolvers, the Ordnance Department chose a design that was clearly a step backwards: a single shot, muzzleloading pistol carbine with a detachable shoulder stock. The end result was a weapon that was neither fish nor fowl; an oversized and ungainly pistol or an overly short-barreled carbine with a shaky attachable stock. 

The Ordnance Department intended that new the weapon would be issued to the cavalry and used as a pistol when mounted and a carbine when dismounted. The gun was to be carried in the typical pommel holsters of the day, with the pistol in one side and the butt stock in the other. US Secretary of War Jefferson Davis approved the gun on July 5, 1855, along with the rest of the Model 1855 family of firearms. Since the Federal Government operated on a fiscal year system, the gun was actually adopted five days into fiscal year 1856. This explains why Ordnance Department records show no deliveries into stores of Model 1855 Pistol Carbines in 1855. The armories also maintained their records and bookkeeping on a fiscal year basis, but dated the manufacturing of part, like locks and barrels, on a calendar year basis. The Springfield Armory delivered a total of 4,021 of the Model 1855 pistol carbines to the Ordnance Department during its brief production run. In fiscal year 1856 a total of 2,710 were delivered into stores and in fiscal year 1857 an additional 1,311 were delivered. 

The first issues were to a squadron of cavalry from both the 1^st and 2^nd US Cavalry Regiments. The guns were far from successful or popular in the field, and no further pistol-carbines were manufactured after fiscal year 1857. In 1858, the pistol-carbine was also tentatively issued to some light artillery units for trials, with the thinking that is might be a handy weapon for those troops. However, it was not popular or successful in that role either. Eventually, the Ordnance Department finally saw a glimpse of the future and proceeded to issue revolving pistols to the cavalry and undertook additional trials of breech loading carbines. 

As of October 1860, some 3,022 of the Model 1855 Pistol Carbines were in storage at various arsenals, with only 992 being in the field. However, the outbreak of the American Civil War created such a pressing need for small arms that most of these pistol carbines were issued, at least on a temporary basis. According to George Moller’s research, elven different companies of US cavalry were completely or at least partially armed with the Model 1855 Pistol Carbine during the first part of the Civil War. John D. McAulay’s research indicates that as late as the quarterly field reports dated 31 December 1862, slightly less than four hundred of the Model 1855 Pistol Carbines were still in service in the field. The regiments listed in that report, still carrying the Pistol Carbine at the end of 1862, as well as the number of guns that they had in service during the quarter ending December 31, 1862, included the 9^th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry (27), the 1^st Indiana Volunteer Cavalry (41), 2^nd Kansas Volunteer Cavalry (53), 5^th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry (76), 6^thKansas Volunteer Cavalry (61), 4^th Missouri Volunteer Cavalry (10), 11^th New York Volunteer Cavalry (59), 1^st West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry (5), 2^nd West Virginia Volunteer Cavalry (66).

Eventually, the guns were withdrawn from service as more practical weapons became available. Despite the fact that the gun was obsolete from the day it was adopted, as late as 1880 some of the Pistol Carbines were still in government stores, as some 332 of them were sold at auction as surplus from the New York Arsenal in that year.

The US Model 1855 Pistol Carbine has the dubious honor of being the last single-shot percussion handgun to be issued to the US military, at a time when percussion revolvers were the standard of the day, and metallic cartridge revolvers were beginning to emerge. The gun was just under 18” in overall length with a 12” .58 caliber barrel, rifled with the traditional Springfield Armory three groove rifling. The gun used a reduced sized version of the Maynard automated “tape primer” lock that was also used on both the Models 1855 Rifle and Rifle Musket. Although all previous sing-shot pistols had utilized a roundball projectile, the new Model 1855 Pistol Carbine used the expanding base, .58 conical projectile used in the US Models 1855 Rifle, Rifle Musket and Carbine. The only substantial difference was a reduction in the powder load from 60 grains for the longarms to 40 grains for the pistol carbine. 

Like most arms produced at the National Armories during that time frame, the steel parts of the gun were polished to “National Armory Bright”. It was mounted with brass furniture and a walnut stock. The butt of the pistol carbine had a large swivel ring, allowing either a lanyard or carbine sling to be attached. A sling swivel was also mounted on the bottom of the single brass barrel band, as well as in the toe line of the detachable buttstock. The pistol featured a captive ramrod that was retained by a swinging link system, similar to the pattern used on the US Model 1842 pistol and the earlier Model 1847 Cavalry Carbine. Why this system was adopted, when it had been universally despised on the Model 1847 Carbine is somewhat of a mystery. A large iron front sight was installed very close to the muzzle, and a multi-leaf rear sight was graduated for use at 100, 200, 300 and 400 yards. The 300-yard graduation was provided via a small peephole in the 400-yard leaf. The iron backstrap was cut to allow the attachment of a removable shoulder stock, which was typically numbered to the gun. The guns and stocks were batch numbered from 1 to 20, with the number stamped into the top rear of the brass butt cap and into the lower part of the buttstock’s brass yoke.

This particular US Model 1855 Pistol Carbine is in VERY GOOD condition and retains the very elusive original detachable buttstock, which does not match numerically, but which matches the condition of the gun perfectly. The gun is 100% complete and correct, and remains in very nice, if used, condition with clear markings on all of the metal. The gun was lightly cleaned to bright at some point in the past and is now toning done to a medium pewter patina. The barrel is mostly smooth, with only some small, scattered patches of light pitting oxidized surface roughness over most of its length. The breech, however, does show moderate pitting and erosion caused by the erosive properties of the fulminate of mercury priming compound of the period. Despite the pitting in this region, the top of the breech is clearly dated 1855 and the left breech flat is marked with clear V/P/{EAGLE HEAD} proof and inspection marks. The lock has a darker mottled plum brown color, unlike the bright barrel. The hammer shows the faded mottling of case colors, suggesting this might have been an early production gun with the lock left case hardened and not polished to bright. The lock is almost entirely smooth with only some minor pinpricking and light surface oxidation. The lock is clearly dated 1855 as well, in a single horizontal line behind the hammer. Matching dates on Model 1855 Pistol Carbines are somewhat uncommon, with mismatched dates by a single year being more typical, usually an 1855 dated barrel with an 1856 dated lock. Components there were produced and dated in the previous year were not discarded when the calendar year changed, rather they were used up as needed without any particular regard to matching lock and barrel dates. Forward of the tape primer door the lock is marked in two horizontal lines: U. S./SPRINGFIELD. The tape primer door is marked with the usual {Spread-Winged Eagle}, with the usual Springfield five arrows in one talon and olive branches in the other. The tape primer lock mechanism is 100% complete and remains fully functional. The lock of the pistol carbine remains mechanically fine and functions crisply on all positions. The original multi-leaf rear sight is in place on the barrel tang and operates smoothly. The sight retains some of its original blued finish, which contrasts nicely with the bright steel of the barrel. These sights were somewhat fragile and are often missing or broken when an 1855 Pistol Carbine is found today. This one has crack in the left side wall that supports the leaves, which has been somewhat crudely repaired with what appears to be solder. This is a minor issue that is mentioned for accuracy but is nearly irrelevant as it is on the reverse and not the display side of the gun. The original swivel ring is in place on the butt cap of the pistol, and the original captive ramrod is in place under the barrel. The bore of the pistol carbine is in ABOUT GOOD condition. It is partly bright, with darker patches of oxidation and light to moderate pitting along its entire length. It does, however, retain clearly visible rifling. The brass furniture has an attractive rich, golden mustard patina that does not indicate any recent cleaning. The brass butt cap is marked with the mating number 8 indicating that it was intended to mate with butt stock number “8”. The walnut stock is in about VERY GOOD condition as well, particularly for a pistol carbine. The stock is full-length and without any breaks or repairs. This is unusual for these carbines, as they are often found with broken or severely damaged stocks, particularly through the grip area where the stress of the detachable buttstock tended to cause cracking. In this case, the grip does show the deeply impressed curved indentations from the yoke of the buttstock, marks that are typically encountered on pistol carbines that have spent most of their lives with the buttstock attached but does not show any breaks or cracks. The counterpane retains good edges without any indications of sanding, and partially legible script JS cartouche is visible on flat opposite the lock. This is the mark of Springfield Armory sub-inspector James Stillman, who worked at the arsenal from 1835 to 1891, the longest serving employee in the history of the arsenal. During most of his tenure at the arsenal he was the foreman of the stocking department, a position that he held for fifty years. He also inspected arms from time to time over about a twelve-year period, with most of his inspections made between 1847 and 1860. During that time, he inspected US Model 1842 Muskets, Model 1847 musketoons, Model 1851 Cadet Muskets and Model 1855 rifle muskets and pistol carbines. The stock shows no sanding, and retains strong edges and good lines throughout, with any rounding or softening of edges due to carry, use and a likely old light cleaning. As would be expected, the stock of the carbine shows the numerous scattered bumps, dings and dents from use and handling, but all of this is honest wear from real world use. The wood to metal fit of the carbine is very good throughout as well.

As noted, the pistol carbine retains an original buttstock that bears the mating number 11 which does not match the pistol, which is numbered “8”. The detachable buttstock’s appearance, condition and patina match that of the gun perfectly. The stock fits the carbine well but shows the usual moderate looseness and shakiness that made this weapon unpopular in the carbine configuration. The buttstock retains all of its original attachment mechanism as well as the original sling swivel in the toe line, although the adjustment screw does not tighten up quite enough to really snug it to the gun. Like the pistol, the brass furniture of the buttstock has a dark golden mustard patina. The brass of the stock and pistol match very well, again suggesting that the two pieces have been together for a very long time.

The buttstock appears to have been lightly cleaned at some point in time, but like the carbine the buttstock does not appear to have been sanded. The stock retains fairly crisp edges with any softening due to carry, wear and use. The buttstock shows numerous scattered bumps, dings and minor mars from handling and use, as would be expected. The wood to metal fit of the buttstock and its furniture is very good as well and as noted, the stock fits the carbine well. Interestingly there appears to have been a period name carved into the lower reverse of the stock, which was later intentionally defaced. What remains partially legible is clearly something that was applied during the period of use. Who the person was and the reason why the name was removed is a story that you wish the gun could tell.

Overall, this is a really nice example of the US Model 1855 Pistol Carbine that is complete and correct with the elusive original buttstock. It is tremendously better than many of the examples encountered on the market today, particularly as most have no buttstock at all; or a reproduction one if one is present. This example really has no significant condition issues that are not the result of real-world field use. The gun has a wonderful “been there, done that” look, but shows no signs of abuse or modern monkey business. These unique guns fit into both the Civil War martial handgun and carbine categories in terms of collecting. They are also only the second handgun to be produced in any significant quantity at the Springfield Armory, with the earlier pistol being the Model 1817 Flintlock Pistol. The US Model 1855 Pistol Carbine was made in rather limited quantities, making them relatively scarce on the collector market today. This is a solid example that is priced very fairly, making it accessible to most collectors who have waited years for a fine condition example, complete with buttstock, to add to their collection but were unable to pay the $8,000 to $10,000 price that these complete sets often sold for in the past.

ON HOLD