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Burnside carbine
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The .54 caliber Burnside carbine was designed and
patented by Ambrose E. Burnside. This weapon was
manufactured in Rhode Island by the Bristol Firearms
Company and later, its successor, the Burnside Rifle
Company, from about 1857 to 1865. Throughout these
years, five different models were manufactured.
Lowering the trigger guard, which also served as
the operating lever, would cause the breech to tilt
up, revealing a cone-shaped cavity. The metallic
cartridge for the Burnside, of a unique cone shape,
was placed into this cavity. Closing the lever rotated
the breech block into position, placing the cartridge
in the chamber. A percussion ignition system with
an external hammer fired the carbine. A small hole
at the base of the cartridge would allow the fire
to pass through and ignite the powder in the case.
The Burnside was the third most used carbine utilized
by the Union cavalry, exceeded only by the Sharps
and Spencer carbines. The most serious complaint
about this carbine was the tendency of the cartridge
to stick in the breech once it was fired. |
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Division of the History of Technology, Armed Forces
History
National Museum of American History, Smithsonian
Institution
Behring Center
Transfer from the U.S. War Department
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