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Charleville Musket
"The Charleville Musket gained its name from the place of its manufacturer. This was the standard issue flintlock musket of the French Empire." The original musket was delivered in 1717, was subsequently revised, and the newer model came out in 1728. In the following years this musket was revised multiple times, until 1766. This weapon required a great deal of interaction from the operator. "The actions required to ready and fire were dependent on the operator’s level of training." -
The Blunderbuss
The blunderbuss was a short range musket that was present during the early part of the 18th century. This gun was efficient in close range fighting, such as urban environments. At close range the spread of shot from this weapon would inflict maximum damage. This weapon existed in two different forms; a short, pistol like form, and a medium size, shotgun like version. The loading of this weapon consisted of filling the barrel with the appropriate level of gunpowder, and forcing it down. -
British Land Pattern Musket
The Brown Bess was the standard musket of the British military. This weapon was in service from 1722 to the 1860’s. "The early form of this weapon was a flintlock action; later forms were actually converted to the cap firing system, which would become the military standard worldwide." It was a conventional gun because of its form and function. The only issue with this gun was that there was a delay between when you pull the trigger and when the bullet was actually launched. -
Kentucky Rifle
This weapon was first forged in Lancaster, Pennsylvania during 1730 by "immigrant gunsmiths from Switzerland and Germany." The first quality long rifles were credited to a gunsmith named Jacob Deckard. The immigrant gunsmiths saw a need and made a rifle to fit the requirements of the frontiersman. To load this rifle you had to put the butt of the weapon on the ground, and a powder horn was used to hold the powder." This weapon became popular to the people of Kentucky, because of Daniel Boone. -
Springfield Model 1795
"The model 1795 was a smooth-bore, single-shot, flintlock-based musket. It was the first such weapon system produced in the United States." The weapon was first introduced in the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the Civil War. This weapon was also taken on the Lewis and Clark journey. "The development of this weapon actually came from America’s reliance on The Charleville Model, during the American Revolutionary War." The Model 1795 was the first production musket from the Springfield Armory. -
Allen and Thurber Single-Shot
"The Allen and Thurber Single-Shot was created for competitive shooting." Design of this weapon was wood and metal, with the barrel being made of steel. The cast steel barrel was removable and made up 8 inches of the gun’s length. "The trigger was curved outward, and protected by an elegant trigger guard that allowed for additional fingers to stabilize the weapon." Some 300 pistols were thought to be produced beginning in the 1840’s, and continuing into the 1850’s. -
Colt Dragoon
"The Colt “Dragoon” was the brainchild of Samuel Colt, and eventually went on to one of his most successful revolver creations in the history of firearms." It was originally designed for the Army Mounted Rifles. The colt offered a light weight solution, to the preceding Colt Walker that had its issues due to weight. The dragoon appeared just as America’s war with Mexico was drawing to a close. It was later put to good use in the American Civil War. -
Colt model 1855 Revolving carbine
The Colt Revolving Rifle was an attempt to provide the repeating action of a revolving within a shortened rifle form known as a “carbine.” The Model 1855 came in three distinct caliber forms; .36, .44, .56. The Model 1855 was a departure from the rifle-muskets then in use and more a glimpse into the world of firearms that would make up the “Wild West.” The Model 1855 was adopted by the US Army in 1855, but full scale use would not be used until 1857, due to “cook-off” issues. -
Burnside Carbine- Breech Loading Carbine Rifle
"The Burnside Carbine was a popular carbine rifle that was fielded across all of the major battlefronts of the American Civil War." It was developed by Ambrose E. Burnside. This weapon made use of a specially-designed cartridge, this being a brass .54 caliber cartridge that Burnside developed himself. His new weapon and the corresponding cartridge eliminated the leaking of hot gases that were common when firing other breech-loading weapons of the time. The weapon weighed 7lbs. -
Allen and Wheelock Drop Breech Rifle
"The Allen and Wheelock Drop Breech Rifle saw limited service in the American Civil War." They were only acquired through the soldiers purchasing themselves, and they were not standard issue. There were only 2000 produced. "This single-shot rifle was loaded through a dropping breech block system manually actuated by the trigger guard lever mechanism." This rifle could be purchase chambered for a variety of calibers, ranging from .22, .41, .42, .44 calibers. -
Bridesberg Model 1861
The Bridesberg Model 1861 rifle-musket was produced for the US Government during the American Civil War. A subcontractor of the Springfield Armory handled the production, the Bridesberg Machine Works of Pennsylvania. An all new facility was built in 1863 just for the purpose of producing the Model 1861. The Model 1861 followed in line with much of the rifle musket designs of her time. The Bridesberg Model 1861 received its name from the model year of its inception(1861) and where it was produced -
Colt Model 1861 Navy
The design of the Colt Model 1861 navy was not unlike Colt’s previous “Navy” offering. This weapon was a refined version of the strong selling firearm. "A key difference between the Model 1861 and the Model 1851 was the use of the 7.5 inch rounded barrel assembly, as compared to the octagonal shape." This model of the weapon saw usage on the battlefields of the American Civil War; it also saw the violent expansion into the West. -
Cosmopolitan Carbine
"The Cosmopolitan Carbine was a percussion-based carbine firearm produced out of the Cosmopolitan Arms Company facility." It was produced for the Union Army, during the American Civil War. This carbine had a unique design shape, because of its “double-loop” enclosed lever. "The US Ordnance Department placed an order for Cosmopolitans in December of 1861, and deliveries began in July of 1862." This weapon appeared in the 5th and 6th Illinois Calvary regiments, and 2nd Iowa cavalry.
