This carbine was manufactured by the Burnside Rifle Co., of Providence, Rhode Island circa 1863-1865. The Burnside Carbine was designed by Federal General Ambrose E. Burnside before the Civil War and was one of the most widely issued and successful federal cavalry carbines. This Fifth Model carbine has the distinctive guide screw in the right side of the receiver . The carbine has a folding, two leaf, rear sight with three apertures graduated form 100, 300 and 500 yards. A cavalry sling bar and ring are mounted on the left side of the receiver. The barrel has a dull military blue finish. The breechblock, lever and receiver tangs are niter blue. The receiver, hammer, barrel band, lock plate and buttplate have a color casehardened finish. The stock and forearm are oil-finished black walnut. The top of the receiver is roll-stamped: "BURNSIDE PATENT/MODEL OF 1864" in two lines. "CAST STEEL" is stamped on the barrel in a single line ahead of the rear sight. The lock plate is roll-stamped: "BURNSIDE RIFLE CO./PROVIDENCE R.I." in two lines. The serial number, "18831", is stamped on the top of the receiver and breechblock. The left side of the stock wrist is stamped with Ordnance sub-inspection and final inspection marks. The script initials "EPR" are stamped in a rectangle near the receiver and the script letters "RWK" are stamped in a rectangle near the side plate screw. Single letter inspection marks are stamped on most components.

Very fine. The carbine retains 95% of the slightly faded original blue and 60% casehardened finish with very minor storage wear. The barrel has most of the dull military blue finish. The breechblock and lever retain 98% of the niter blue finish. The niter blue finish on the upper and lower receiver tangs shows some handling wear. At least 95% of the casehardened finish on the receiver, barrel band, hammer, trigger and buttplate is present, and the case colors are strong. The stock and forearm are both in excellent condition with minimal handling wear. The Ordnance inspection marks on the left side of the stock wrist are in nearly perfect condition. This is a very fine example of a Civil War Burnside Breech Loading Carbine.