31,000 Richmond Rifled Muskets were produced between October of 1861 and January of 1865; no new arms are known to have been produced at Richmond after January of 1865. 

​

The second largest group of shoulder arms was the .58 caliber Rifled Carbine, with about 5,400 produced between November of 1862 and January of 1865. One thing that makes Richmond Carbines so unique is that they are the most inconsistent of Richmond made arms in terms of features and components. Many Richmond carbines were assembled with a mixture of Richmond made parts and older parts that were on hand from Harpers Ferry or from parts scavenged from damaged returned Richmond arms and battlefield recoveries. These guns represent slightly less than 15% of the total Richmond Armory production. Sometimes 1861 dated high hump lock plates were used for carbines and the hump was either cut or ground down to a low hump profile to allow the user to quickly insert and remove the primer cap since the hump usually got in the way slowing down the loading time. This carbine had the 1861 lock plate hump filed down to a flat/level profile vs the curved profile normally cast on low high hump plates. (See comparison photos below)

​​

The majority of Richmond carbines have a plain, unmarked brass butt plate. The barrel bands are usually stamped with the “U” mark indicating UP, but are usually much less consistently marked than their US made counterparts. This carbine has a UP mark on the lower barrel band but none on the upper band. Richmond-made brass nose caps secured by a single brass pin. The gun has a tulip head ramrod with screw threads at the other end for bullet removal. 

​

This carbine barrel has a faint set of V / P / (Eagle Head) proof marks on the left angled flat at the breech, and no date is visible on the top of the breech. The rear sight appears to be Richmond work, with a US M1855 type base with a steady pin, and the swept-wing shaped elevating leaves. The long-range, 500-yard leaf is missing, but the L-shaped 100-yard/300-yard leaf remains in place.

A soldier initials “J S W” (Note: the S is backward written) are present on the stock above the trigger as well as three letters “B B B” on both sides of the stock possibly representing an inspection / refurbishing mark or a collector’s stamp.

​

The carbines were equipped with three sling swivels instead of the more conventional carbine sling bar and ring. Two swivels were mounted in the traditional long arm locations; on the trigger guard and the upper barrel band. The third was screwed into the toe of the stock about 1“ from the rear of the trigger guard tang. Most of the guns utilized Richmond made stocks have lock mortise inlet with the distinctive “Mules Foot”. This carbine has a Mule Shoe Foot in the mortise area of the lock plate. The Richmond made stocks are typically unmarked. A very nice example of a Richmond Carbine with Confederate canvas sling.