Manufactured by N.P. Ames of Springfield, Massachusetts, c. 1846. Ames manufactured approximately 4,250 of these breech-loading side action carbines between 1843 and 1846 for the U.S. Navy and the Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography. The carbine has a round .54 caliber rifled barrel with brown finish, casehardened lock plate, breech lever and mule ear hammer, brass barrel bands, trigger guard and buttplate. A sling ring is staple mounted on the trigger guard finial behind the bow. The stock is oil-finished black walnut. The flat in front of the oval breech is roll-stamped "WM JENKS" along the axis of the bore followed by "USN/RC/P/1846" in four lines. The tail of the lock plate is roll-stamped "WM JENKS" and "N.P./AMES/SPRINGFIELD/MASS" is roll-stamped on the center of the lock plate behind the hammer. A serial or assembly number "12/50" is stamped on the inside of the breech lever. An inspection stamp that consists of two script letters with a rectangular border is stamped on the left stock wrist. Although most Jenks Carbines were utilized by the Navy, 40 Jenks Carbines were issued to the 1st Dragoons in 1844 for field trials.

Excellent. The carbine is in as-issued, un-fired condition. The percussion nipple, hammer and adjacent portions of the lock plate are free of flash pitting. The barrel retains 90% of the original brown finish; wear is limited to several minor scratches and a few spots of surface rust. The side plate, mule-ear hammer and breech lever retain more than 95% of the subdued case colors. The brass barrel bands, trigger guard and buttplate have a mottled age patina with scattered spots of discoloration. The stock is very fine with a few relatively minor handling and storage marks. The barrel and lock plate markings are extremely sharp. The inspection mark on the left stock wrist is faint. This is a very fine example of a Mexican American War era Jenks Breech-Loading carbine in as-issued condition.