This is a .54 caliber percussion Starr Carbine from the Civil War era. Between 1861 and 1864 there were over 20,000 of the these carbine made by the Starr Arms Company of Yonkers, New York. This horse soldier weapon has an overall length of 37 3/4", with a barrel length of 21". The round barrel has a brownish/plum patina with some of the original bluing still showing. The original front and rear sights are still reporting for duty. The top of the barrel has a worn STARR ARMS Co YONKERS N.Y. stamp just forward of the rear sight. The inspector's initials of H.G.S. are stamped on the left side of the barrel at the breech. The bore still has a little shine to it and shows average rifling. A good cleaning wouldn't hurt this one! The lock and frame show some case hardening with a dull steel gray patina. The right side of the lock is stamped STARR ARMS CO./YONKERS, N.Y. in two lines. Stamped onto the tang just behind the breech in two lines is STARR's PATENT/SEPT. 14th, 1858. The mechanics of the carbine function normally. The barrel is retained by a single brass band. The butt plate should be brass as well, but is an iron type that retains just traces of bluing, now having a dark steel gray patina. The sub inspector initial B can be found on the tang of the butt plate. The serial number of 21122 can be found on the right side of the breech block and the bottom of the barrel. This is a late production carbine, and may explain why it has an iron butt plate instead of the brass one. Starr switched over to production of a .52 caliber rimfire cartridge carbine about the time this gun would have been produced, so it may be a factory installation. The carbine sling ring is still attached on the left side of the frame. The walnut stock is in good condition. There are no major cracks or wood loss anywhere on the stock. The barrel channel on the fore end still has nice crisp edges. There are no visible cartouches on the stock. They may have been worn off, or never had any stamped on it. Since this is a late production percussion Starr carbine the war may have ended before this one was accepted for service. It is a cool piece of Civil War history from the 5th largest arms maker during the war.

Item # AA3464

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