This cavalry arm is a fine example of the Starr carbine, a breech loading, .54 caliber, percussion model shortarm produced by the Starr Arms Company of Yonkers, New York. It is identified by serial number to Private Charles Crump of Company “F”, 13^th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry in 1864. Crump, a 6’2”, blue-eyed native of Sumner County, Tennessee, joined the army on Jan 25, 1864 at DuQuoin, Illinois at 33 years of age. Company F was organized at Chicago, Illinois in December 1861 and was stationed mostly at Pilot Knob, Missouri and at Pine Bluff, Arkansas during the war. A mechanic in civilian life, the army appointed him as company cook in July 1864. Crump did suffer a saber wound received in a skirmish with the enemy at Pine Bluff in June 1864 but was treated in camp and did not go to the hospital. Crump died on November 28, 1897 and was buried at Independence, Missouri.

The Starr carbine resembled the more famous ‘Sharps’ breechloader carbine of the time but many Union cavalrymen did not think highly of the Starr as they did the Sharps. The first shipment of 1000 Starr percussion carbines was delivered to the Ordnance Dept in September 1863, and in total over 20,000 such weapons were purchased by the US government. Manufactured between 1862 and 1865, the Starr percussion carbines were all .54 caliber breechloaders fitted with 21” long round barrels. The carbine employed a split breech, dropping block mechanism that allowed the trooper to insert a linen cased cartridge into the barrel breech chamber for loading. Upward motion of the operating lever / trigger closed the breech, and ignition was activated with the striking of the percussion cap by the external hammer.

Carbine measures 38” long and weighs 7 lbs., 6 oz. Iron lockplate and frame were casehardened and the barrel blued. All brass furniture bears a mellow bronze patina. This fine, original carbine with serial # 9859 features a two-piece black walnut stock with an 8½” long forend secured by a single, brass barrel band and a 14½” long walnut buttstock with a sub-inspector marked brass buttplate. No case colors remain and the barrel wears a untouched dusky gray patina with scattered pinprick rusting overall. Strong maker stampings on the obverse side of the lockplate read, “STARR ARMS CO. / YONKERS, N.Y. in two lines. Barrel top surface is clearly marked “STARR ARMS CO. YONKERS, N.Y.” in front of the rear sight. Sub-inspector marks of “H. G. S. ” appear stamped on the left side barrel breech adjacent to the fore-end. Lock tang is stamped with “Starr’s Patent / Sept. 14^th 1858”. A single, staple-type, iron sling ring is mounted on the left side of the receiver.

Mechanics are crisp and the bore is excellent. Wood has acquired its share of dings and surface nicks but has not been cleaned and exhibits no repairs or cracks. Clearly visible on the stock’s right shoulder area is the trooper’s handcarved identification that reads “C. M. Crump.” Carbine frame screws good but receiver screw is lightly buggered up. Comes with the soldier’s military and pension records from the National Archives in Washington, DC, plus a letter from Springfield Research Service regarding the records of the Company and Regimental books of the regiment. A fine, identified percussion carbine carried by a member of the 13^th Illinois Volunteer cavalry regiment.

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