This Starr carbine has loads of blue on the barrel and very nice grain to wood of the buttstock. Both sights are in place. The rear sight has the leaf in place and is a mottled gray and blue in color. Barrel band and buttplate are iron. The band shows some blue. The receiver and buttplate are largely gray, but smooth metal with no pitting. The loading groove shows some faint case, as does the face of breechblock when lowered. The mechanics are good.

The wood has a tight fit to the metal, good edges, and nice finish. The grain of the buttstock flats is particularly pleasing, and shows just scattered handling marks. The left wrist shows some dings from the sling ring, and perhaps a carbine swivel, that do not obscure two clear inspector cartouches.

The markings are complete, correct, and fully legible. The lockplate is marked at rear, “STARR ARMS CO. / YONKERS, N.Y.” in two lines; the barrel has a one-line stamp between the rear sight and barrel band: “STARR ARMS CO. YONKERS, N.Y.” The receiver tang is marked, “STARR’S PATENT / SEPT. 14th 1858” in two lines, just behind the loading channel. The barrel at left breech shows inspector’s initials. The right breech is numbered 37413. Forward of that, below the rear sight, is a line of Japanese characters which indicate a postwar foreign sale out of surplus stocks. The characters translate to “9 nen 195 Tokyo Fu”. ‘Tokyo Fu” is a former name for Tokyo City, which existed from 1868 to 1943. “9 nen” means the 9^th year (year 9) of an era; since there were 3 eras while Tokyo Fu existed – Meiji (1868-1912), Taisho (1912-1926), and Showa (1926-1989), “9 nen” means either Meiji 9 (1876), Taiso 9 (1920) or Showa 9 (1934). The number "195" is assumed to be a serial number.

The Starr was one of the few carbines to start the war in percussion and end it in rimfire. Some 20,601 percussion versions were supplied to the U.S. government by open purchase and contract from July 1863 to August 1864, with additional sales to commercial dealers, private individuals, perhaps some states, etc. The government ordered 3,001 of the rimfire model in February 1865 and an additional 2,000 in April. In late March 1,000 were sent to the Ordnance Depot at Winchester and at least 671 were issued to the 12^th Pennsylvania Cavalry before Lee’s surrender on April 9. Starr subsequently offered another 5,000 to the government that had already been inspected at the factory, but the offer was turned down. The carbine was favorably regarded, however, and in fall 1865 the 2^nd U.S. Cavalry was armed with them. In 1870 163 were listed in storage at the Cheyenne Ordnance Depot. The carbine thus qualifies as an early Indian War cavalry arm as well.

Both old and new models were included in postwar government sales. By April 1869 12,803 had been sold, nearly half of the total surplus carbine sales. Buyers included firms like Schuyler, Hartley and Graham, W.W. Wolcott, C.W. Pond, and others. As the Japanese markings on this one show, many were destined for sale to foreign entities. Japan was a good market at the time, being engaged in its own civil war.  [sr]

DISCLAIMER: All firearms are sold as collector's items only - we do not accept responsibility as to the shooting safety or reliability of any antique firearm. All firearms are described as accurately as possible, given the restraints of a catalog listing length. We want satisfied customers & often "under" describe the weapons. Any city or state regulations regarding owning antique firearms are the responsibility of the purchaser. All firearms are "mechanically perfect" unless noted, but again, are NOT warranted as safe to fire.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.

THANK YOU!