GREENE RIFLE WORKS Antique CIVIL WAR Warner Patent Breech Loader SR Carbine BRASS FRAME .50 GOVT Rimfire SADDLE RING CARBINE

Product Description

GREENE RIFLE WORKS Antique CIVIL WAR Warner Patent Breech Loader SR Carbine

BRASS FRAME .50 GOVT Rimfire SADDLE RING CARBINE

Here we present an antique Civil War Era Greene Rifle Works Breech Loading Saddle Ring Carbine made circa 1865 in Worchester, Massachusetts. The Warner Carbine is an excellent example of the many styles of innovative, breechloading, metallic cartridge long arms that were produced in fairly small numbers for the U.S. Ordnance Department during the American Civil War. The Warner Carbine was the invention of James Warner of Springfield, Massachusetts. James Warner was a prolific inventor and gun maker who was at one time or another engaged with the following gun makers: Springfield Arms Co., Massachusetts Arms Company, Edwin Wesson, Wesson Stevens & Miller, and Warner & Wesson.

On January 13, 1864, the U.S. Ordnance Department agreed to an initial contract for 1,000 of the Warner saddle ring carbines. The sample carbine was delivered 11 days later, and the first 200 guns of the contract were delivered on March 31, 1864. Warner delivered 300 more on April 25 and the balance of 500 on June 23. Apparently, the Ordnance Department was sufficiently satisfied with the initial deliveries that in October of 1864 they accepted an additional 500 carbines and on December 7, 1864, Warner received a second U.S. Contract for 2,500 more of the breechloaders.

This scarce example of a Warner Carbine made by the Greene Rifle Works is one of the 2,500 of these distinctive brass frame carbines designed by Warner and delivered in the second batch between February and March of 1865, with the first 1501 manufactured by the Springfield Arms Company in 1864. Initially, they were chambered in James Warner’s own proprietary .50 caliber rimfire cartridge, but at the Union’s request, the second batch was chambered for the .50 GOVT Rimfire Spencer Carbine cartridge which the North was trying to standardize.

The action features a hinged breechblock and manual extractor located on the underside of the forend. The bright barrel is fitted with a blade front sight and folding single leaf rear sight graduated to 800 yards. A saddle ring and stud are fitted on the left side of the receiver. These carbines are extremely easy to use, but probably not so much riding on a horse. You place the hammer in half cock, depress the breech release which allows you to manually open the breech by flipping the door to the right, and then you are able to insert your cartridge. Fully cock the hammer and you are ready to fire!

The majority of the Warner carbines were issued to two U.S. volunteer cavalry regiments, the 1^st Wisconsin Cavalry and the 3^rd Massachusetts Cavalry. After the war, the majority of the Warner Carbines (which had not garnered favorable reviews from the men they were issued to) were sold off to Schuyler, Hartley and Graham in 1870, when the firm purchased 2,492 of the guns and sold them to the French for the Franco-Prussian War. This is one reason that the guns are relatively scarce today. This example has no visible European proof marks and likely never left the United States.

The overall condition is very good. The action is excellent. The bore is somewhat reflective with good rifling. The stock shows much use and remains solid.

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 20 inches.

Caliber: .50 Rimfire

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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$4500
#247202