Gallager percussion carbines were extensively issued in the Civil War. Richard and Overman obtained the rights to manufacture them, sold 200 to the government in August 1861 and got contracts from September 1861 into 1864 for almost 18,000. In March 1865 they obtained a contract for a new model, chambered for the self-contained Spencer cartridge, and delivered 5,000 between May 4 and June 3. About half of these were sent to the St. Louis Arsenal and issued to the 3^rd Illinois, 11^th Indiana, 12^th Missouri and 12^th Tennessee cavalry, who were posted in Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota and the Dakota Territory to operate against Indians. This is a very good example of that model, bearing lockplate markings: “MANUFACTURED BY / RICHARD & OVERMAN / PHILADA” along with the carbine’s serial number, 22327, just behind the hammer and patent markings at its rear: ” “GALLAGER’S PATENT /JULY 17th 1860.”

Like the percussion version, the carbine is iron mounted, made with a patch box and no forestock. The wood to metal fit of the buttstock is tight. The wood shows just a few very minor handling or wear spots near the buttplate and has two splendidly crisp cartouches at the wrist, under and just aft of the sling bar, and a small inspector’s initial forward of the butt plate tang. The buttplate is smooth metal, with no corrosion, and shows case color and a small inspector initial on the tang. The patch box is smooth metal, dark blue in color with some gray at the edges and a mix of gray and brown at center. They were usually, but not always, casehardened according to Flayderman. The inside of the door shows is numbered 1048. The lockplate shows a mix of silver and brown with traces of case color aft of the hammer, but much stronger color on the hammer and mid point of the frame, with good color and patches of silver gray on the forepart. The barrel shows lots of thin blue, shifting in some spots toward plum. The rear sight is in place. The front sight and base are missing, but could be replaced. The barrel inspector initials J.M.D. are sharp at the top breech with some rubbing to gray and a little bit of freckling to the finish at forend of the receiver.  The tang shows a couple of crusty spots, but has some case color showing and blue on the screw heads. The mechanics are very good and the bore has excellent rifling.

A good example of a fairly scarce carbine.  [sr]

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