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MODEL 1833 HALL-NORTH BREECH LOADING CARBINE –
VERY NICE SPECIMEN OF THE HISTORIC CARBINE ISSUED TO THE
1ST AND 2ND REGIMENTS OF UNITED
STATES DRAGOONS: The Model 1833 Hall-North
Carbine has a particularly significant niche in firearms
history as the first percussion firearm, and the first
breech loading firearm, officially adopted by the U.S.
Government.
As documented in detail on pages 53-70 of Peter
Schmidt’s excellent reference Hall Military
Breechloaders,
the bulk of the early
production of these Model 1833 “Type II”
Hall Carbines were
issued to
the newly formed 2ND Regiment of United
States Dragoons who had been sent to Florida and were
engaged in the Seminole War. It is worth noting that
the 1ST Regiment of US Dragoons, stationed on
the western frontier at Ft. Gibson on the Arkansas
River, had received the Model 1833 “Type I” Hall-North
Carbines. In order to identify the changes made from
one production run of the Model 1833 Carbines to the
next, Schmidt assigned “Type I, II, or III” to
acknowledge the differences in each production group.
As Schmidt records, the “Type I” carbines were chambered
for .58 caliber in order to more easily accommodate the
buck and ball cartridges. When the second contract for
more carbines was awarded to Simeon North in 1836, the
design remained identical to the “Type I” except that
the caliber of the “Type II” was reduced to .52
Caliber.
This Model 1833 “Type II” Hall-North Carbine is legibly
marked “U.S.; S.NORTH; MIDLTN CONN.; 1839” on the breech
block, and inspected “NWP” (Nahum W. Patch) on the left
side barrel flat forward of the breech.
The bore is excellent with only minor frosting and no
pitting. The top surface of the breech block forward of
the hammer is pitted, typical of these Model 1833
Carbines due to the heavy field use in the inhospitable
climate of the Everglades. The balance of the top
surface of the block is smooth and retains traces of the
original case colors.
The block functions smoothly and is mechanically crisp,
responding properly to the operating lever. Of special
note is the presence of the breech block lever catch
incorporated in the latch mortise plate on the bottom of
the carbine. These catches were intended to engage the
lever to lock the breech block closed, however due to
complaints from the field, it was decided to eliminate
the catch from production about the time this series of
carbines was manufactured. As Schmidt writes, these
latches are often missing, having been removed or broken
in use, and those that do survive are often found locked
in position due to corrosion. That this catch is
present on this carbine, and moves freely and will
engage the edge of the block lever is a definite added
value. Due to use and wear, the catch will only
partially engage the lever, but some minor adjustment
should correct this.
The exterior of the barrel is overall smooth with an
even aged color, with a small patch of pitting on the
top of the barrel near the front sight. The iron
furniture has an overall smooth surface with no
pitting. The discoloration on the iron furniture –
particularly on the butt plate, tool compartment door,
and trigger guard - that is visible in the photographs
is not corrosion; rather it is traces of the original
brown lacquer finish that was applied to the Hall
firearms. Fortunately this carbine has not been heavily
cleaned and these traces of the original finish remain.
The original sliding triangular combination
bayonet-cleaning rod is present and full length with the
sharp point intact and the threaded tip for the cleaning
worm is present on the lower end. The surface of the
bayonet is smooth and the edges are crisp. .
The condition of the stock is overall very good with no
more than the expected signs of issue and use. The
edges and profiles remain sharp, including the edges of
the barrel channel and of particular note, the
triangular cleaning rod channel, which is regularly
found to be badly splintered. There is a small wood
repair on the left side of the stock adjacent to the
receiver, very well done, virtually invisible except on
close inspection, and it appears to have been executed
concurrent to the period of use of the carbine. The
wrist of the stock is very solid, however there is an
age check in the left side of the butt stock just below
and running parallel to the top of the comb. Both this
check and the repair along the side of the receiver are
consistent with, and may be attributable to, a problem
reported by officers in the field against the Seminoles.
Apparently, the powder charge in the .52 caliber
cartridge was too large, and the granulation of the
powder was too fine, the combination of which resulted
in excessive pressure and recoil which fractured some of
the stocks.
The tool compartment in the toe of the stock is complete
with a fully functional door and catch, and the inlets
into the stock which held the various tools and
appendages are all full form with no cracks or splits.
There are two additions to the stock that bear
mentioning. There is an oval iron plate approximately
1” long and ¼” wide inlet into the comb immediately
forward of the butt plate tang of the stock, anchored
with two fine pins,. It must have been intended to bear
an inscription of some sort, but no such inscription is
present. The inletting was very well done, and from all
appearances was executed contemporary to the use of the
carbine. The other feature of note are two screws that
are located on the receiver flats of the stock – one on
each side – directly behind the receiver support arms.
Each screw is set in place with brass pins through the
head of the screw to prevent the screws from loosening
or backing out. Whether these screws meet inside the
stock or are completely independent of each other is
unknown, but it is apparently an effort to reinforce
what was recognized as a weak point in the stock.
Again, the work was executed with evidence of a
gunsmith’s skill and appears to have been done
contemporary to the carbine’s use.
These early Model 1833 Hall-North Carbines have a very
significant place in the early history of the US Army -
being a remarkable bench mark in firearm design, and
being issued to the 1ST and 2ND
Regiments of Dragoons as they took the field in some of
the young nation’s earliest Indian Wars. This
historical association as well as the very recognizable
profile and unique features such as the sliding
triangular bayonet-cleaning rod, makes the Model 1833
Carbine an important addition to a collection of weapons
carried by the U.S. Mounted Soldier.
SOLD
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