[MikeS]

Well, at least one for sure is a stamp, the other... maybe.

Found this carbine locally a few years ago, and it has the number '9' stamped into the left buttstock. Then on the other side it has been 'doodled' on, but at the center of the doodles looks like there may have been another stamp.

My question is, do stamps appear regularly on Burnsides? There was a local unit that was the "9th N. Y. Cavalry" raised in the Southern Tier of New York. An 1886 History describes them using Burnsides as follows:


ON POPE'S CAMPAIGN. The regiment left camp at Cloud's Mills July 19, to take part in Pope's campaign and marched to Warrenton where it arrived on July 21, and camped near the village. The men, numbering about 500, were all armed with sabers and revolvers and companies E and M with carbines. The car- bines used were the Burnside with rubber cartridge and using caps. Interesting read as it really goes into the campaign's details. However, any chance that these were marked per unit? Then there is the other stamp, my imagination or is there possibly something at the center of the doodles?

Thanks for your tolerance!

Best regards!
- Mike

PS - It is a matching earlier model with the 1862 on the barrel and 1863 receiver markings. Nice metal condition, but the wood had dried out.

 

[Cloudy]

I think that the only "official" stock marking would be an oval acceptance stamp on the left side of the stock within a couple inches of the receiver.

 

[Southron Sr]

First of all, that old Union Vet got his cartridges "mixed up" as it was the Smith Carbine that used the cartridge with the Rubber case. Burnsides used a thin brass cartridge case that looks amazingly like a modern Ice Cream cone (without the Ice Cream!!!)

All arms manufactured during 'The War of Northern Aggression' and accepted by the Yankee government will have a small rectangular stamp on the wood of the stock behind the receiver on the left side of the arm. Generally, three initials in script will be in that small rectangle. IF you can find that "Inspector's Stamp," then I probably can tell you the name of that inspector. Sometimes those stamps are hard to find because not only are they small, but also because they are often lightly stamped.

 

[Southron Sr]

By the way, the Burnside Carbine when fired with a proper fitting, lubed, round ball from a Burnside Cartridge and propelled by a moderate amount of FFFg Black Powder has the reputation for being a superbly accurate arm because of the Gain Twist Rifling in the carbine's barrel.

You can get Burnside Cartridges from Lodgewood Manufacturing or S & S Firearms on Myrtle Avenue in Glendale, NY. Custom size round ball moulds can be ordered from Jeff Tanner Moulds in England. You can "Google" the website of all of these companies.

 

[FDV]

Well, at least one for sure is a stamp, the other... maybe.

Found this carbine locally a few years ago, and it has the number '9' stamped into the left buttstock. Then on the other side it has been 'doodled' on, but at the center of the doodles looks like there may have been another stamp.

My question is, do stamps appear regularly on Burnsides? There was a local unit that was the "9th N. Y. Cavalry" raised in the Southern Tier of New York. An 1886 History describes them using Burnsides as follows:


ON POPE'S CAMPAIGN. The regiment left camp at Cloud's Mills July 19, to take part in Pope's campaign and marched to Warrenton where it arrived on July 21, and camped near the village. The men, numbering about 500, were all armed with sabers and revolvers and companies E and M with carbines. The car- bines used were the Burnside with rubber cartridge and using caps. Interesting read as it really goes into the campaign's details. However, any chance that these were marked per unit? Then there is the other stamp, my imagination or is there possibly something at the center of the doodles?

Thanks for your tolerance!

Best regards!
- Mike

PS - It is a matching earlier model with the 1862 on the barrel and 1863 receiver markings. Nice metal condition, but the wood had dried out.

Do you happen to know what carbines the 6th NY Cavalry carried? I had a GGUncle who was killed at Berryville, VA in Sept 1864. I've always wondered what carbine he carried.

 

[steved66]

Mine has two inspectors cartouche on the left side of the stock along the wrist, not on the wide butt portion. Most pictures I've seen of other Burnsides also show two stamps in similar positions.

 

[john.k]

The lines of dots are made with a leatherworking tool ,to evenly space hand stitching.