Object Details
- Springfield Armory
- Description
- Physical Description:
- The .58 caliber U.S. Model 1855 rifled pistol-carbine is a pistol with a detachable shoulder stock and was created by the Springfield Armory. It retains the Springfield 1855 Maynard primer. It has a swivel type steel ramrod and an assembly number of 16.
- This pistol carbine has three stamps on the lockplate. “1865” is stamped on the rear. The second stamp is an eagle under the hammer and “U.S./SPRINGFIELD” is stamped towards the front.
- History:
- 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. At the time, it was the smallest .58 caliber pistol used in the army. It was lighter because this pistol-carbine was built to use the newly designed Minie bullet. It also was useful because normal rifle musket caps could be used on this firearm.
- 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.
- References:
- Flayderman, Norm. Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms…and their Values, Gun Digest Books, Iola, 2007. 9th edition.
- Gardner, Robert E. Col. Small Arms Makers: A Directory of Fabricators of Firearms, Edged Weapons, Crossbows and Polearms, Crown Publishers Inc, New York: 1963, p. 185.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- The Adriana and Edwin W. Bitter Family Collection
- 1855
- ID Number
- 1986.0024.01
- catalog number
- 1986.0024.01
- accession number
- 1986.0024
- collector/donor number
- M28L
- Object Name
- pistol-carbine
- pistol-carbine, percussion
- Other Terms
- pistol-carbine; Firearms; Tape Prime; .58 In; Rifled; Muzzle Load; Sa
- Physical Description
- metal (part material)
- wood (part material)
- Measurements
- overall: 17 7/8 in; 45.4025 cm
- overall: 29 1/2 in x 5 1/2 in x 2 in; 74.93 cm x 13.97 cm x 5.08 cm
- place made
- United States: Massachusetts, Springfield
- See more items in
- Military and Society: Armed Forces History, Military
- The Bitter Collection of Firearms
- Military
- National Museum of American History
- Record ID
- nmah_438564
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ab-ac54-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
