This original, breech-loading carbine, is one of only some 14,500 weapons produced by H. Merrill of Baltimore, MD. The cavalry weapon is a wartime example of the Second Type Merrill carbine with a 54 caliber, single shot, percussion breechloader as used in the Civil War.

Carbine exhibits the brass triggerguard, brass butt plate and the single barrel band but has no patch box. Carbine bears serial #19108 on the rear of the lockplate behind the hammer. Round barrel is 22 1/8” long and wears a mottled, dark plum-gray patina. Piece was loaded by pulling back the ball-type plunger latch on the top breech lever, then lifting and pulling up the lever and inserting the cartridge. Mechanics are strong. Original nipple at the bolster is cracked and chipped. Top flat of the breech lever is marked with “J.H. MERRILL BALTO. / PAT. JULY 1858.” Single-leaf front sight is marked for 300 or 500 yards. Marked on the iron lockplate forward of the hammer is a very thin three-line address of “J.H. MERRILL BALTO. / PAT. JULY 1858 / APL. 9 MAY 21-28-61.”

Carbine has a dark walnut stock that carries a crack at the left side wrist area and another crack at the stock bottom adjacent to the left edge triggerguard. No cartouche visible. Stock left side also fitted with an iron sling bar but no sling ring. All brass exhibits a mellow, untouched patina. Brass components also sub-inspector marks “Z.” Barrel bore boasts what little remains of its original three-groove rifling; plus light to moderate rust pitting overall. Among the Union cavalry regiments that were issued the Merrill carbine were: 18^th PA, 1^st NY, 1^st DE, 3^rd KY and 7^th WI.

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