This one was in a famous collection in Georgia for decades and was found in that state decades prior!

The Terry's Pattern Carbine was produced by the Birmingham firm of Calisher & Terry was one of the more unique and innovative breechloading percussion arms to be developed in the mid-19^th Century. They were in great demand all over the world. The guns have always had a strong Civil War association with the Confederacy. Two very famous carbines that are in the collection of the American Civil War Museum (formerly the Museum of the Confederacy). One of these guns belonged to Confederate President Jefferson Davis, while the other belonged to famed Confederate cavalry general J.E.B. Stuart.  The Terry carbines is a rarely encountered arm imported in limited quantities by the Confederacy and identified as such "back in the day" by Claude Fuller & Richard Steuart's Firearms of the Confederacy (pages 231-232 & Plate XXVI, Figure 3) and William Albaugh & Edward Simmons' Confederate Arms (Plate 99, Figure 3). Recently, however, one of the documents discovered within the McRae Papers provides the confirmation that the Confederate central government indevoured to acquire 5000 of Terry’s Patent Carbines. The letter was sent from Paris and is dated December 3, 1863.The letter goes on requesting Mr. William Quilter, who was a London accountant intimately involved with S. Isaac, Campbell & Company, to make inquiries in order to obtain the usual Pattern 1853 Enfields that the Confederacy had already been purchasing, but also to obtain some 5000 Calisher & Terry breech loading carbines, 5000 slings, bullet molds and thousands of rounds for these. Since Terry’s patent carbines are known with Confederate provenances, this suggests that this shipment of those guns did indeed arrive. But even if this sanctioned CS government purchase was not completed, it is certain that other state or private purchases proceeded or followed this order.

The carbine offered here has "the look" and is a classic example of the Terry “Door Bolt Carbine Type II". There exists variations one Terry carbine to another: barrel length, overall length, stock length and hardware. This carbine is of the same basic pattern as the ones owned by both J.E.B. Stuart and Jefferson Davis, but these were of a slightly better or select quality being private purchases designated as they were for VIPs. This, our example, is a trooper's no frills combat weapon. The gun is clearly marked on the lock plate, forward of the hammer: "CALISHER & TERRY, LONDON" and the top of the breech is crisply marked: "TERRY'S PATTERN .30 BORE" behind the bolster. The top of the 35 1/2-inch barrel is additionally marked, forward of the rear sight: "CALISHER & TERRY MAKERS TO H.M. WAR DEPARTMENT". The serial number engraved on the trigger guard tang is "5973".  A Terry Carbine in the Springfield Armory collection is in the 10,XXX serial number range and dates to 1865, suggesting that our particular gun "5973" was likely produced sometime in early 1863. The maker’s initials "C&T" are stamped in the wood behind the trigger guard as well as initials "R.B. & Co". Crudely engraved on the tang of the iron butt plate is "11" which is repeated but looks crudely stamped twice on the either side of the butt stock. The gun is in classic attic, in the brown, condition. The .54 caliber bore is nice and retains crisp rifling. The butt trap door in the bottom of the stock functions as it should. The gun retains all of its original hardware, including the original rear sight, both sling swivels and the upper barrel band complete with the tension screw keeper. The cleaning rod is not original to this gun it is old but was added recently (most Terry carbines are found without these intact). Unfortunately, the original cleaning rod extension jag is missing from the butt trap and the tiny ring that held the nipple chain is missing from the front of the trigger guard. The stock of the gun is made from a piece of walnut with a lovely dark brown color. The stock is smooth without checkering as would be expected for a “military” configured carbine. The stock fine throughout, with a perfect wood to metal fit. The stock retains good edges and shows no indication of ever having been sanded. It is solid and full-length, with no breaks or cracks. As would be expected the carbine shows some scattered handling bumps, dings and minor bruise. The gun shows use but no abuse.

These hard used carbines are rarely encountered on the market for sale especially in this unmolested condition.  The Southern association cannot be denied, and we are certain this weapon was used here by Confederate cavalry. This a very scarce gun that is missing from even the most advanced Civil War era percussion carbine collections and is rarely found available for sale.  [pe] [ph:L]

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