This is a Federal Cavalry carbine manufactured by H. Merrill of Baltimore, Maryland and used during the Civil War. This .54 caliber Merrill carbine is of the Second type, as it is furnished with the butt plate, trigger guard, single barrel band of brass, but no patchbox. The overall length of this weapon is 37 1/4" with a 22" round barrel. The bore is bright, has no pitting and shows very good rifling. The .54 caliber paper cartridge was loaded into the breech by pinching the rounded button type latch and lifting and pulling the plunger on the top of the receiver back, allowing the cartridge to be inserted into the breech. The breech lever mechanism is stamped I over the number 79 on the inside of the cover, and the letter L on the right side of the breech mechanism. The mechanics of this carbine are crisp and flawless. The top of the breech lever is stamped "J.H. MERRILL BALTO./PAT. JULY 1858". The base of the breech lever is stamped with the serial number 16540. The rear sights are V notched and marked for 300 and 500 yards. The lockplate is stamped in three lines "J.H. MERRILL BALTO./PAT. JULY 1858/APL. 9 MAY 21-28-61". An eagle is stamped just forward of the hammer, and the year 1864 is stamped on the rear of the lockplate. The clean out screw is still present on the bolster and the original nipple is still present. The hammer holds in half and full cock. The barrel shows traces of the original bright finish, but is mostly a steel gray patina, with scattered black spots along the length of the barrel. The barrel and top of the breech cover are stamped with the inspector letter L, smae the the breech mechanism. The iron lockplate and hammer have a silver/gray patina. Opposite the lockplate is the saddle bar and ring, also having a silver/gray patina. The brass butt plate, barrel band, and trigger guard have a beautiful ocher patina. The brass pieces all have the sub inspector initial D stamped in them. The walnut stock is in very good condition with no major wood loss and very crisp edges. The stock has been stamped with the letters JSD just forward of the butt plate tang, John S Duston was a military arms inspector from 1862-1863. It is quite likely these are his initials, along with the D on the brass pieces. There are two rectangle cartouches stamped on the left stock flat, one looks to have the initials RKW in script letters, the other I can't quite make out, but they are also script letters. These carbines were known to have been issued to the following Union cavalry units: New York 1st, 5th and 18th, Pennsylvania 11th, 17th and 18th, New Jersey 1st, Indiana 7th, Wisconsin 1st and 3rd, Kentucky 27th and the Delaware 1st Cavalry regiments. This is one sweet little gun, even if it did ride with the wrong side. Seriously, if you are a Union Cavalry or carbine collector this Merrill will definitely make your collection pop!

Item # AA2839

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