These carbines were designed by James Paris Lee and manufactured by the Lee Fire Arms Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Though Lee is most famous for his bolt action and detachable box magazine design, the first production arms manufactured based on Lee's designs were these single shot carbines. The barrels were subcontracted to Remington, but an error in communication and/or the U.S. Ordnance Department's desire to not pay for the arms after the conclusion of the war led to the government rejecting the whole batch of carbines due to the carbines being bored at .42 caliber like the trial arms instead of the .44 caliber mentioned in communications from Chief of Ordnance Brigadier General A.B. Dyer. Only 255 carbines were completed by November 1866, and approximately 200 more were nearly complete. Other components were also outsourced, but they were assembled in Milwaukee. With the hammer at half cock, the side swing barrel opens for loading from the right. It has a "pinched" blade front sight, two leaf 500 yard rear sight, a modern made reproduction saddle bar and ring mounted on the left of the action, and smooth walnut buttstock with casehardened buttplate. The frame of this example is a sporting model, visually different from the military carbine model frame in that it has a higher top section with a sight notch built in. It is possible this example could have been assembled from leftover parts in the period for commercial sale.

Very good as configured, with artificially applied brown patina on the iron surfaces with scattered mottled freckling. The sights, saddle bar and ring are modern made replacements. Stock is also very good as sanded and re-oiled, with a faintly visible repaired crack on the right of the wrist, and a few scattered light scratches and dents. Mechanically fine.