Civil War Period Starr Percussion Carbine

Civil War Period Starr Percussion Carbine – This Starr carbine is an excellent example of a Civil War period carbine for which the Federal Government contracted just slightly over 20,000, mid-war; by 1863, shipments of the Starr carbines were starting to be delivered, with the balance of the shipment completed by August of 1864. The serial number, which is stamped in the breech block, appears to be 18,985, indicative of one of the latter group of carbines delivered to the government. These carbines were breechloading, .54 caliber weapons, which operated as single shot firearms, with a combination trigger guard and lever that dropped the breechblock for chambering a round. This carbine is in overall very good condition – it retains a considerable amount of original bluing on the barrel and some casehardening on the receiver and lock; both brass elements – the butt plate and barrel band – remain in excellent condition with pleasing aged patinas; the walnut butt stock and fore stock’s finish remains in excellent condition with only some very minor period use blemishes; the firing action is strong; both sights remain; the bore has a considerable amount of rifling remaining. All of the correct markings are readily visible: the barrel, in front of the rear sight, is stamped: “STARR ARMS CO. YONKERS, N.Y.”; the upper tang of the receiver is stamped: “STARR’S PATENT / SEPT. 14^TH 1858”; single letter sub-inspector stamps appear on various parts of the carbine. Starr carbines would see service with these Union cavalry regiments: 24^th NY, 11^th Missouri, 5^th Kansas and the 1^st Arkansas. The inventor of these carbines and Starr pistols, both used during the Civil War, was Ebeneezer Starr, son of famed gunmaker Nathan Starr, Jr. During war period government tests, Federal agents rated the Starr as better than the Sharps carbine.