Original Item: Only One Available. This U.S. Martial pistol is one of the most impressive of all! The Springfield Model 1855 Pistol-Carbine was the last single shot pistol to be produced for the U.S. military. More than 4,000 were made, and at the time, it was the smallest .58 caliber pistol used in the army. It was based around the same Maynard "Tape Primer" system used on the M1855 musket, which kept a coiled tape containing primers, which were fed out when the hammer was cocked.

It was lighter because this pistol-carbine was built to use the newly designed smaller Minié bullet. It also was useful because normal rifle musket caps could be used on this firearm. Measuring 18" in overall length, the back strap is designed to attach to a removable shoulder stock, which were almost always lost over the years, such as on this example. It does have the inlets on the back strap for attachment of the stock, so one was definitely originally fitted, and probably discarded during the period.

This pistol-carbine was intended to be used as a pistol on horseback and a carbine on foot. When used as a carbine, it also had an awkward weight and balance. The butt stock was prone to split during the recoil and loosen over time. Because of these deficiencies and the availability of six-shot revolvers, this type of firearm quickly fell out of favor with U.S. troops. This, combined with the obviating of the use of the insufficiently waterproof Maynard tape primer, led to a very short service life, and examples are very hard to come by.

The pistol carbine is very faintly dated [18]55 on the lock plate tail (the first year of production), with a clear U.S. / SPRINGFIELD at the front of the lock plate, indicating production at the United States Armory and Arsenal at Springfield, in Springfield, Massachusetts. The door to the tape primer system still has a crisp Federal Eagle stamping on top, and there is a clear 1855 on the barrel tang under the rear sight. All brass mounted, the pistol has a Swivel Ramrod to enable the Trooper easy reloading while still in the saddle.

The steel components are all bright, not blued, showing some past powder burn near the cap nipple cone, which looks to have been smoothed out to improve appearance. The V / P / Eagle Head proofs on the barrel nocks form are present and still fully legible. The lock is fully functional, holding at half cock and firing at full. It also still has the connector to the tape primer system present, along with the other functional parts, and there is even an old roll of primer cap tape in the compartment! It looks like it may be installed backwards, but it is very delicate, so we have made no attempts to more it. The feed pawl moves when the hammer is pulled back, though it does not engage the tape, as the primer blisters fell off long ago. The cap nipple cone is still in good shape, though the cleanout for the bolster is currently seized.

Over the pistol is in very good condition, having been cleaned by our expert antique gunsmiths to put it in its best light. We can see that it has suffered oxidation in the past that was later cleaned away, which made the markings on the rear of the lock plate faint. We also can see see wood graft repairs on the left wrist as well as at the bottom of the lock plate, as well as a crack behind the lock plate that was not repaired. The back of the grip shows staining and wear from the attachment of a butt stock, which is unfortunately no longer present. We also see that the original lanyard ring is missing.

We checked the bore, and were not able to see any rifling, which is not surprising given that the bore now measures out to about 0.64", not the original 0.58". We do not know if this is from wear and cleaning, or if the pistol carbine was purposely smoothbored for some purpose.

A very nice FIRST YEAR PRODUCTION example of a very unusual and hard to find Civil War era pistol carbine, ready to research and display!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: 1855
Caliber: .58 inch Minié - worn to 0.64"
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder with Tape Primer
Barrel Length: 12 inches
Overall Length: 18 inches
Action: Percussion Lock
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

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.