This is a very good example of the breech-loading .52 caliber Joslyn carbine as carried by a number of Union cavalry regiments. Total production is estimated at 3,300, with 2,201 purchased by the government and the remainder sold privately through dealers like Schuyler, Hartley and Graham, who listed it in their catalog. This one has government inspector cartouches on the left side flat and matching serial numbers, 1658, putting it in the middle of the production run. The first thousand bought by the government were delivered in August 1863, another 500 in November, and 700 at the beginning of December, so this one had plenty of time to reach the field and see action.

This is the standard configuration, brass mounted, with pivoting breechblock bearing, “B.F. Joslyn’s Patent / October 8^th 1861 / June 24^th 1862” and the serial number “1658” in four lines. The markings are sharp, just a little light in the third line. The placement of the markings is correct for M1862 and the block is the 1862 pattern hooked-latch style. The brass barrel band, triggerguard and buttplate have a nice, even aged, mustard color patina. Both sights are in place on the barrel, which has smooth metal and substantial thin blue-turned-plum coverage. The exterior of the breechblock shows some muted silver and thin caramel colors as does the hammer. The interior of the block shows some thin color. The lockplate and tang show silver gray and thin brown. The sling bar plate shows gray from the rubbing by the sling ring, but the ring and bar show thin brown. The lock marks are sharp:  “JOSLYN FIREARMS Co. / STONINGTON / CONN.”

The wood has a tight fit to the metal, nice color and shows small handling dings, small pressure dents and short scratches overall, but is solid and shows two very legible cartouches on the left side above the sling bar plate. The only slightly wider drag line comes off the rear of the sling bar plate with a small divot to the rear of that, likely from a carbine sling snap hook. The forward edge of the lock apron shows some wear, otherwise the edges are good, and this is a nice example of a carbine with some field use, but which was taken care of.

Joslyn carbines were widely used. The majority of the thousand in the first shipment of the M1862 in August 1863 went to the 1^st NY Dragoons (19^th NY Cavalry,) who served with the Army of the Potomac and saw action beginning in September 1863 and considerable fighting in Grant’s Overland Campaign of 1864. This is a nice example of the M1862 and would look great in a cavalry display.  [SR][ph:L]

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