Joslyn’s 1864 pattern (sometimes called the Second Model although there were both 1855 and 1862 versions) was a breechloading, single-shot, .52 caliber carbine like the company’s Model 1862, loaded by flipping to left side the breechblock, fitted with an extractor, but included several changes. Immediately noticeable is the the change from brass to iron mounts. Technical changes included a more secure latch for the breechblock, marked by a knob finial, a hood around the firing pin, placement of a gas vent on top of the breechblock, which resulted in moving patent stamps from the top to the rear of the breechblock, and chambering for the Spencer .56-.52 cartridge that was in wide use. These changes delayed delivery until July 1864, though Joslyn included a number of “transitional” carbines as well, which used up some old parts, as this one does, the lockplate being the 1862 style, marked simply, “JOSLYN FIREARMS Co. / STONINGTON / CONN” with no 1864 date. It is otherwise a straight M1864.

The government purchased 8,000 of these carbines and another 4,500 or so were sold through Schuyler, Hartley and Graham and other firms. This one is clearly stamped “US” on the buttplate indicating a government purchase and has two inspector’s cartouches visible in the wood, though not fully legible, above the base of the side bar on the left. These are certainly the script initials of principal sub-inspector Frederick D. Livingston, whose block letter FDL stamp also appears on the left breech of the barrel, and who inspected seven lots of 1,000 Joslyn carbines each from July 2 to December 30, 1864, according to Daum and Pate. Serial numbers for the Joslyn M1864 carbines picked up at the end of earlier versions and started at about #4300 by McAulay’s estimate. This one is clearly numbered 4698, placing it in all likelihood in that first U.S. delivery of 1,000 carbines in July 1864.

The carbine shows issue and use, but is complete and all original, with sights, band, side bar and ring in place. The mechanics are fine. The bore shows some pitting, but the rifling is okay. The metal rates near excellent, with smooth surface, lots of original blue on the barrel, front sight and sides of the rear sight, with the barrel band shifting a bit toward plum. The receiver and lock show the muted bluish grays and thin browns of faded case colors, as does the butt plate in places, with the side bar plate and the leaves of the rear sight showing gray from handling and use. The wood rates considerably under that, solid and with good color, but showing numerous scratches and shallow longitudinal hairlines to the surface of the wood on buttstock flats with dings along the top of the comb and belly of the stock. Given a July 1864 delivery, however, the carbine was in the field in time for some active service in major campaigns, expeditions and battles. McAulay (1996) lists the following cavalry units armed the M1864: 2^nd California; 4^th and 8^th Indiana; 2^nd Kentucky; 4^th Missouri; 1^st Nebraska; 9^th Pennsylvania; 13^th Tennessee; 2^nd and 3^rd West Virginia; 1^st Wisconsin; and 3^rd and 5^th USCT.

This is solid example of an early issue Joslyn M1864 and would fit a collection related to any of the above units or a general Civil War cavalry or carbine collection. [sr][ph:L]

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