Total production of type I and II Merrill carbines by James H. Merrill of Baltimore, Maryland, was just under 14,500, and nearly all were issued to Union cavalry units including several from New York and Pennsylvania. Merrill was in Washington, D.C., in 1816 and initially worked with his brother William as a gunsmith in Baltimore in the 1840s. His first breech loading design was patented in 1856. This example is a very early type I carbine and has the rarely seen "staple" blade front sight and lacks government inspection markings. It features a notch rear sight with two folding leaves, brass patch box and furniture, knurled latch, a sling bar attached to the brass side plate on the left stock flat (absent sling ring), matching serial numbers on the tail of the lock and lever.

Good, with old applied brown finish over draw file marks on top of breechblock lever, some scattered patches of mild pitting around the breech area at the nipple, some replacement screws, aged darkened patina on the brass fittings, and legible markings on the breech lever and lock. Absent sling ring. The stock is fine as re-oiled, with scattered scratches and dents and a few chips around the upper tang and at the front of the comb. Mechanically excellent.