This is one of 8,000 Model 1864 Joslyn breech loading carbines purchased by the Ordnance Department from the Joslyn Fire Arms Company of Stonington, Connecticut. The Joslyn was one of the more widely used carbines during the Civil War and was an effective and popular firearm with Federal cavalry units. Union cavalry units that used the Joslyn included the 4th and 8th Indiana, 19th New York, 13th Tennessee, 9th Pennsylvania, 3rd West Virginia, 2nd Wisconsin and 1st Nebraska. Deliveries of the carbine were made throughout the course of the war. The carbine has a blue barrel and casehardened iron mountings and a one piece straight grip stock with saddle ring and bar on the left side. The carbine is equipped with a pinched blade front sight and a three folding leaf rear sight. It has the correct hooded firing pin that distinguish the Model 1864 Carbine from the brass mounted Model 1862 carbine. The lock plate is marked "JOSLYN FIRE ARMS Co./STONINGTON CONN" ahead of the hammer, a marking more commonly found on the Model 1862. The rear of the breechblock is marked "B.F. JOSLYN PATENT/OCTOBER 8TH 1861/JUNE 24TH 1862". The left side of the barrel has "FDL" inspector initials. The matching serial number is located on the top of the breechblock and upper tang. The heel of the buttplate is marked "US". The stock is hand marked with the date "1864" above the lock plate and has two crisp script letter cartouches on the left flat stamped above the saddle ring bar. Inspector initials "FDL" are repeated near the buttplate tang.