Original Item: Only One Available. This very Original U.S. Civil War Era Palmer Model 1865 Bolt-Action Carbine by E.G. Lamson & Co. was featured and test fired on an episode of History Channel's Pawn Stars in 2025. You can watch it on the episode below: 

These are extremely rare, records tell us only 1,000 pieces were manufactured, and all delivered to Union Forces, though unfortunately they arrived a month after the war had ended in May of 1865. The Palmer model 1865 carbine is a single-shot bolt-action rifle patented in 1863 by E. G. Lamson and Company of Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. All of these, which were designed to be rifled carbines for cavalry soldiers, were subsequently sold to civilians after the war. The rifle was the first bolt-action rifle to be accepted for use by the US Army Ordnance Department.

Our example is textbook, and in excellent condition, still retaining almost all of the original finish, including the delicate case hardening on the screws, lock, and other fittings. It is still marked clearly on the lock with an 1865 date, and forward of the hammer it is marked with the manufacturer information:-

The left rear of the barrel has the patent markings still present as well:-

The Palmer System was a unique design, and intended to also be used as a modification to turn muzzle loaders into bolt action rimfire breech loaders. Unfortunately, it had deficiencies when compared to other designs of the time, especially the Spencer, and also as a single shot design ended up being inferior to the Trap Door rifle that the U.S. Army eventually settled on.

As stated before, the carbine is in excellent condition, still retaining all components, and the action is fully functional. It cycles correctly, and the extractor and ejector are both present and look to work great. It retains its short saddle bar with ring to the left side and the rear flip sight is present and in great shape. The left side of the barrel is stamped with the inspectors initials MM, which matches the "boxed" MM cartouche on the left side of the stock. This is the marking of ordnance inspector M. Moulton, noted for inspecting "Savage and Colt M1851 .36 Revolvers, Palmer Carbines, and Ames M1840 Light Artillery Sabers 1861-1865."

We checked the bore, and it is in excellent condition, showing a bright finish with crisp lands and grooves, showing little to no evidence of wear or use. The stock is in similar condition, showing only some dents and scratches from storage, and no real wear.

A fantastic example of a rare Civil War design carbine, a forerunner of many later Bolt-Action designs. Here is a great chance to own a historically significant carbine!

Specifications:-

Year of Manufacture: 1865
Caliber: .56-50 Spencer rimfire / .50 Government Rimfire
Ammunition Type: Rimfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 20 inches
Overall Length: 37 1/8 inches
Action: Bolt Action
Feed System: Single Shot

More on the Palmer Carbine:
Unlike traditional bolt actions, which contain the firing pin centered in the bolt, the Palmer's bolt was machined from a solid block of tubular metal, which had screw type lands and grooves to lock the bolt in place via a short, stubby handle. The hammer of the weapon (located on the right side of the receiver like all other percussion fired rifles of the time period) holds the firing pin at the tip. A tooled, milled slot is visible on the head of the bolt canted toward the right side allows a slight opening for the firing pin atop the hammer to strike the rim-fired cartridge, usually the 56-50 rim fire. The bolt was designed for single-shot action; the cartridges were loaded one at a time.

The design was quite revolutionary, and was seen at the time as a simple breech modification to weapons of the time period to accept metallic cartridges instead of the traditional powder, ball, wad, ram rod and percussion cap, which consumed time during loading procedures. The designer understood that gunsmiths could hopefully modify current percussion rifles from the breech of the gun in the same way flintlocks were modified to percussion using a relatively simple process. The downfall of the rifle was the positioning of the hammer where the firing pin hits the rim of the cartridge, and the small space on the bolt where the two parts meet with the bullet rim when the trigger is pulled.

Ultimately the actions of rifles like the Spencer rifle and the Sharps rifle were preferred over the Palmer. Its unique significant design is a predecessor of all modern bolt-action-type rifles.

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.