Presented here is a much-altered specimen of a Model 1836 Hall breechloading smoothbore percussion carbine. It appears to have been modified from a M1819 Halls’s rifle or carbine originally produced at the Harpers Ferry arsenal circa 1837 to 1840 into a cut-down, smaller caliber carbine (.54 cal) but retains the fish-tail opening lever.  Modifications include a modified hammer and breechblock.  Hammer has no hole bored in the stem. Also, the high fence back of the nipple appears hammered down to accommodate the replaced hammer. Changed is the sliding ramrod bayonet arrangement which was eliminated on the barrel muzzle and altered to accommodate a small beaded front sight as well as a locking key added underneath for a straight button-head ramrod. op of flat receiver is stamped in a three-line address with “J. H. HALL /  U S  / 1839”.     

Carbine has a 21” round barrel with two barrel bands that secure it to the walnut stock.   All iron mountings. Smooth surface barrel shows evidence of original factory brown lacquer with no original colors on the receiver / breech.  Breechblock area has moderate rust pitting and wears a dark plum patina overall.  Frame shows large rust spots of pitting. Barrel secured to the full stock via two bands with pin fasteners.  No sling bar or ring on the carbine. Stock is black walnut and shows numerous dings and dents overall along with a 3” long crack on the left side beneath the hammer.  No sling bar but does exhibit a large eyebolt inset through the center of the wrist area that served as a sling ring.    

Interestingly, the top of stock behind the breech tang shows three, small (1/4” high), very old initials that read “C.S.A”.  In addition, there is a partial ID handwritten into the right side of stock below the breech block that appears to read “M H Will _ _ __”.  Letters too thin to discern. No government cartouche. We feel that this specimen of M1836 Hall’s carbine could have possibly been altered for Confederate service by a government arsenal or repository. A very unusual and interesting altered Hall’s M1836 carbine that likely saw CS cavalry service during the Civil War.      

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