Original Item: Only One Available. This well-used Burnside Cavalry Carbine in .54 caliber is offered in good condition, and looks to have seen long service during the war, and most likely afterwards. It is marked on the frame with serial number 7449, while the breech block and loading lever are marked with serial number 13106. This means that the breech block was swapped out at some point, and the block is in fact from a Fifth model, as it has the channel on the right side for the "guide screw". The frame / receiver was made about a fifth of the way through of wartime production, probably made in mid-late 1863. We checked the Springfield Research Services records, but were not able to find any possible shipments this may have been a part of.

This example, known as the "Fourth Model" or model of 1863, definitely saw long service, and shows a worn patina overall, with a lot of wear to the stock wood. In spite of this, it still retains the original saddle bar with one ring, as well as a sling swivel on the bottom of the butt stock. The wear to the exterior metalwork has made the markings a bit faint.

The top of the frame is marked (partly worn away):

The marking on the lock plate is however still fully legible, a rarity:

The barrel marking CAST=STEEL 1862 in front of the sight is present, with some wear to the bottom of the letters, which also could mean it was mis-struck. Other Fourth and Fifth model carbines would have "MODEL OF 1864" under the "BURNSIDE PATENT" marking on the receiver, and also would have a "CAST STEEL 1864" marking on them. There does not seem to be any real correlation between when they were made and what markings they have, as Carbine serial 37236, previously sold by IMA, also had the "early" markings.

The metalwork overall shows a gray matte steel patina from years of oxidation and subsequent cleaning, There are some areas with oxidation staining, but no major rust. The area around the cap nipple cone definitely shows some past powder burn, now cleaned away. The stocks show quite a bit of wear, with a good amount of wood missing from for fore stock along the wood line. The rear stock has some dents, gouges, and other wear. It has been personalized with J M Y on the right side and A H on the left, carved in big block letters.

The bore is actually in fairly good condition, showing a mostly bright finish with clear lands and grooves. There is wear to the lands and grooves, and also some past fouling and oxidation, but for a Civil War black powder gun, this is actually quite good. The action cycles correctly, with a functional lock and tight mechanics. As this is a fourth model, the action does not have a "guide screw" on the right hand side, so the action can be hard to keep in the "loading position". The pivot pin is fully intact, and can easily be removed by depressing the spring loaded button underneath.

A lovely "salty" service worn example of a FOURTH Model Burnside Carbine, one of the few that we have had over the years. Ready to research and display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: c.1863
Caliber: .54"
Cartridge Type: Copper Casing or Tapered Foil Cartridge with Cap
Barrel Length: 21 Inches
Overall Length: 39 Inches
Action type: Side Action Lock
Feed System: Breech Loading Falling Hinged Block

History of the Burnside Carbine

The Burnside, one of the best carbines of the Civil War, was designed by one of its worst generals. Actually, Maj. Gen. Ambrose Everett Burnside had sold the interest in his breechloader well before the war started, so he was unencumbered with the need to further its development or, sadly, to reap the proceeds that would have resulted from its success as the conflict’s third most widely produced Federal carbine, after the Sharps and Spencer.

Burnside’s invention employed a rotating block, released by a loading lever that was activated by a hinged, clamping catch. It chambered a unique .54-cal. cone-shaped brass cartridge with a thick, rounded belt (there were also some earlier, coiled cases, sans belt) at its mouth and a small hole in the base that allowed ignition from a separate percussion cap. The round was loaded, base down, into the chamber. Next, the lever was closed and the block locked in place with the belt halfway between the chamber and barrel, providing an excellent seal.

After the carbine was fired, the lever was again lowered and the spent case easily removed from the block with one’s fingers. If extraction became difficult, it was possible to pull it out with the base of the next cartridge. After the soldier got the hang of it, a Burnside could easily be fired in excess of a dozen rounds a minute.

The Burnside Carbine (there were rifles, too) went through a considerable evolutionary process and provides a fertile area for the collector. About 300 First Models were produced by the Bristol Firearm Co. in Bristol, R.I., a manufacturer founded by Burnside himself. It was a .54 caliber with an overall length of 40 inches. First Models had no fore-stock and incorporated a unique side lever, which operated a tape primer and also locked the breech block in the open position. The carbine’s frame was case-hardened, and the barrel was blued.

Second Models did away with the side lever and tape primer, though they still had no fore-stock. Premier Second Models were made by the Bristol Firearm Co., though later ones were produced by the reorganized Burnside Rifle Co., in Providence, R.I. The Third Model, fitted with a fore-stock, was introduced in 1861 at the request of the U.S. Ordnance Dept.

A Fourth, and final, variant appeared toward the end of the Civil War. It had a double pivoting breech block to make the gun easier to open and close. Later on, a second type of Fourth Model (sometimes called “Fifth Model”) appeared with a screw in the right side of the action to prevent the block from dropping out of the action, thus speeding up loading. These guns will be seen with both blued and case-hardened frames. Markings on most Fourth Models are, “BURNSIDE’S PATENT/MODEL OF 1864,” though there are some examples with the earlier 1856 date. Also, deliveries of this model started in 1863, even though they had the 1864 markings.

Because they were made in large quantities and appeared toward the end of the Civil War, Fourth/Fifth Model Burnside Carbines are the least valuable of the various versions. Not too steep a price for one of the most important cavalry arms of one of America’s most important conflicts.

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.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.