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MODEL 1842 AUSTRIAN CAVALRY CARBINE – CIVIL WAR
USE BY BOTH UNION AND CONFEDERATE TROOPS WELL
DOCUMENTED: One of the more interesting
European carbines imported at the start of the American
Civil War, the Model 1842 Austrian Cavalry Carbine
featured one of the shortest barrels at only 14” long,
while having one of the largest rifled bores of any
regulation small arm of the War at .71 caliber.
At the onset of the American Civil War, the need for
serviceable firearms drove both the Federal and
Confederate armies to seek out and purchase available
stands of arms from many of the European armories in
order to equip their soldiers. The Austrian Empire was
one of the major sources of arms, in fact so much so
that between mid-1861 and mid-1862 the purchases of
foreign arms made by the Union Army included 10,000
“Bohemian Carbines”. Bohemia, a region
of Central Europe which generally represents the western
2/3 of the historic Czech lands, was an Austrian
protectorate at the time of the Civil War. These
Bohemian carbines were later described on the Ordnance
Department records as “.71 caliber Rifled carbines,
Austrian”.
While these carbines were
originally manufactured, and used in Austrian service,
with a “tube lock” firing mechanism, the US Army had
them converted to the standard percussion system by
civilian contractors.
The historic record of the use of these unique carbines
during the Civil War is well documented. In April of
1862 General Denver, then stationed at Ft. Leavenworth,
Kansas, reported that “some of the mounted regiments in
this district are armed with the Austrian carbine…”.
One of the units specifically mentioned in reports as
being armed with the Austrian Carbine was the 2ND
Kansas Cavalry. These carbines also found their way
into Confederate service, perhaps as Federal stockpiles
were seized during the process of secession of the
various states or later captured from Federal troops.
One well documented example of an Austrian Carbine
used by a Confederate soldier resides in the Kansas
State Historical Society Collection – taken from Larkin
Skaggs, one of Quantrill’s Guerrillas who was captured
during the raid on Lawrence, Kansas in 1863. Surviving
the War, these carbines like so many of the surplus, and
by then obsolete, firearms in government inventory were
sold at auction to various civilian dealers who in turn,
sold them wherever there was a market. I know of one of
these Austrian Carbines that was recovered in near relic
condition from an undercut sandbar along a creek in
Nebraska. The butt stock was cut off just behind the
rear trigger guard tang, evidence that the carbine was
shortened to be used as a “blanket gun”, likely by a
member of one of the Plains tribes that frequented that
area. These carbines survived in such numbers as to be
offered in the famous Bannerman catalogs in the early
1900’s, at testament totheir durability.
This carbine shows some evidence of use, but survived
the War and the ensuing years in remarkably nice
condition. This carbine is full form and complete with
all the components, to include the unique ramrod which
is often missing from surviving examples. The barrel is
full length, and is complete with both front and rear
sights. The bore retains very strong rifling - twelve
lands and grooves – with minimal, light pitting. The
surface of the barrel, lock and all of the iron
furniture is bright with light, scattered pitting as can
be seen in the photographs. The lock mechanism is very
strong and functions with a crisp trigger pull and
spring action. The lock is stamped behind the hammer
with the Austrian double headed eagle, and all of the
parts have matching serial and assembly numbers. The
left side of the butt stock is stamped “40”, likely a
unit inventory number. The stock is complete, while
showing the expected signs of wear and handling. There
is a tight age crack on the left side of the stock from
the upper lock screw to the crest of the barrel channel,
and a crack between the barrel tang and the top, rear
arch of the lock plate. Neither crack shows any
weakness and both are stable.
Overall, this carbine presents very well and would be an
attractive addition to a Civil War Cavalry collection,
and particularly is a credible representation of the
carbines used by the Confederacy.
SOLD
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