Model 1855 Joslyn breech loading percussion carbine manufactured by A. H. Waters of Millbury, Massachusetts, c. 1855-1856. The carbine has the distinctive monkey tail operating lever with oval ring. The round barrel is blued and has a wide base iron front sight and with late pattern folding leaf rear sight. A sling bar and ring are mounted on the left stock flat. The flat, bevel edged lock plate is unmarked and the nipple bolster has a clean out-screw. The lock plate, hammer, operating lever and sling bar mount are casehardened. The barrel band, trigger guard and buttplate are brass. The oil finished stock is straight grain American walnut. The top of the breech lever is roll-stamped: "PATd BY/B.F. JOSLYN/AUG. 23. 1855" in three lines. There are no visible markings on the lock plate. The serial number "468" is stamped on the right side of the breech lever. A rack number "115" is stamped on the underside of the stock behind the trigger guard finial. Two Ordnance inspection marks consisting of the script initials "TDL" enclosed in a rectangle are stamped on the left stock flat above the sling bar. A. H. Waters manufactured an estimated 1500 Joslyn Model 1855 Carbines; some 1200 were purchased by the Ordnance Department and several hundred carbines were issued to the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th Ohio Cavalry regiments early in the Civil War.

Fine. The carbine retains 70% of the blue and casehardened finish and shows minimal handling wear. There is no flash pitting on the percussion nipple, bolster or adjacent areas of the barrel, hammer or lock plate. The lock plate, hammer, breech lever and sling bar mount have strong case colors. The markings on the breech lever are light. The Inspection marks on the left side of the stock and the rack number are deep and crisp. The stock is in fine condition with sharp edges and minimal handling marks. A re-glued hairline crack runs completely through the stock wrist from the lock plate and sling bar mount to the comb. This is a very fine example of an early and unique breech loading carbine that was issued in limited numbers to Federal cavalry during the Civil War.