Common Guns in the Civil War

Civil War Carbines

CIVIL WAR CARBINES

Over fifty different types of carbines were made for the Civil War. The carbine was made for the cavalry. The Civil War carbine was the testing ground for many different inventions for breech loading firearms.

Two carbines came to predominate by the middle of the Civil War. The Sharps fired a paper combustible cartridge or could be loaded with a bullet and loose powder. The Spencer fired a metallic cartridge. Including both carbines and rifles, approximately 150,000 of both makes were made during the Civil War.

The Burnside was the third most manufactured carbine of the Civil War, and the Smith was the fourth most manufactured carbine of the Civil War.

The Henry was underpowered for military use--about 14,000 were made during the Civil War. The Henry was modified after the War to become the first Winchester. A few single shot carbines fired the Henry 44 rimfire cartridge.

The Southern cavalry fought mainly with single shot muzzle loading carbines. The Robinson factory in Richmond made about 5,000 breech loading carbines like the Sharps. The South cut down infantry muskets or salvaged musket parts to make carbines. A more traditional muzzle loading carbine was made in the South by Cook and Brothers of Columbus, Georgia.

The Southern cavalry also used single barrel and double barrel shotguns. A good fit of a patched bullet in a smooth bore can be accurate out to at least 100 yards. But only with a clean barrel bore.

The many varieties of Civil War carbines has attracted collecting interest for many years--at least since the 1920s. The Confederacy used far more captured carbines then the South made. This list summarizes the carbines used or made in the Civil War.