Burnside 5th Model Carbine

Make: Burnside Rifle Co. of Providence, Rhode Island Model: 5th Model Carbine Serial Number: 26750 Year of Manufacture: Page 112 of Springfield Research Service of U.S. Martial Arms Volume 4 shows serial number 26753 as having been issued to the 7th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry on 4/3/1864; this number is only 3 off from this rifle. Caliber: .54 Caliber Self Contained Belted Brass Cartridge Action Type: Single Shot, Rotating Block, Breech Loaded Percussion Rifle. Markings: The lock plate is marked “BURNSIDE RIFLE CO. / PROVIDENCE RI”, the left of the lever release latch is marked “H”, which is also found again on the roll over tang of the butt plate, the left of the breech block is marked "C". The top of the receiver is marked “BURNSIDE PATENT / MARCH 25TH 1856” over the serial number, which is found again on the underside of the barrel and breech block. The top of the barrel is marked “CAST STEEL 186”. The left of the frame has “S” inspection mark. The underside of the butt plate is marked "6750". Barrel Length: 21”, Round Sights / Optics: The front sight is a triangular base that is dovetailed onto the barrel. The rear sight presents a “V” notch in the down position and when flipped up gives two “V” notched elevation sights for 300 and 500 yards, the base is set to the barrel by the breech and is inspection marked "H". Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are smooth walnut. The forend has a barrel band and has some deeper gouge and scrape marks, large smoothed losses are seen on the flanks of the forend. The stock has a filler repair on the belly, some chip losses are seen around the tangs, some of the wood is bowed out from the tangs but in areas shows a nice flush fit. There are un-repaired cracks on the butt stock coming from the butt plate area, please see our pictures. Scattered gouge and scrape marks are seen throughout. The LOP measures 12 3/4” from the front of the trigger to the back of the the metal butt plate; the plate does not have finish remaining and has spots of mild erosion, in Very Good condition. The stocks rate in about Fair to Good overall condition. Type of Finish: The barrel is blue, the receiver and components may have been case colored. Finish Originality: The surfaces have been cleaned but the remaining finish is original. Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright in areas and the rifling is highly defined. There are some spots of moderate depth erosion but in general, the bore looks very nice for its age. We were able to clean quite a bit of fowling out, further maintenance may improve it further. Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 20% of its metal finish found only on protected surfaces, such as the underside of the forend and inside of the receiver. The other surfaces look to have been hand buffed at some point. The surfaces have hints at cleaned erosion and there is fresh erosion in dark brown to black variance, hinting the cleaning may have been done long ago. The surfaces have a few general handling marks, especially on the saddle ring and bar. The metal has small scabs of erosion in areas with deep dings on the underside of the lever. The screw slots range from light to moderately tooled, a few have chip losses in the slots. Overall, this rifle rates in about Good condition. Mechanics: The action functions correctly. This rifle is a 5th model carbine which has an added screw on the right of the receiver to make loading a more fluid process. We have not fired this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards. Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None Our Assessment: On May 6 of 1864, the 7th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry met with General Lee's men for the first time at the Battle of the Wilderness, which created tens of thousands of casualties on both sides. Springfield Research Service's 4th volume of martially marked firearms indicates that rifle serial number 26753, only 3 off from this rifle, was delivered to the 7th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry just a month before this engagement. This rifle certainly looks to have been there and done that but still shows strong rifling and spots of semi-bright surfaces in the bore. We can only imagine what the service life of this rifle must have entailed, as the unit went on to fight up until the end of the war. With all of its age and use, it certainly has a lot of character and this highly historic item will do great in any collection.