This U.S. Springfield Model 1855 Pistol-Carbine with attachable buttstock was manufactured in 1856. The Springfield Armory manufactured 4,021 of these unique pistol-carbines c. 1855-1857. This model of U.S. martial pistol is historically significant in and of itself in that Springfield Armory only produced two other sidearms, the models 1817 and the 1911 45 auto pistol! The pistol-carbine features an oil-finished, black walnut, brass-mounted, attachable buttstock, rifled barrel with two-leaf folding rear sight graduated to 400 yards steel swivel-type ramrod with concave tip for Minie bullet, Maynard tape primer, clean-out screw on the bolster, sling ring on the buttcap and sling swivels on the upper barrel band and attachable buttstock. The black walnut, oil finished pistol stock has a brass forend tip, barrel band, trigger guard and buttcap. The steel back strap is slotted to accept the attachable buttstock. The lock plate is dated "1856" behind the hammer and roll-stamped "U.S./SPRINGFIELD" in two lines in front of the primer door. The primer door is roll-stamped with the Springfield Armory Eagle and Shield motif. The barrel tang is dated "1856" ahead of the rear sight and the left barrel flat is stamped with "V/P/Eagle head" proof and inspection marks. The assembly or batch number "7" is stamped on the buttcap and the assembly number "11" is stamped on the underside of the stock yoke (Model 1855 Pistol-Carbine stocks and pistols are stamped with assembly numbers from 1-20; the numbers rarely match). The heel of the buttplate is marked "US". A faint Ordnance final inspection mark is stamped on the left stock flat. The Model 1855 Pistol-Carbine has the distinction of being one of only three hand guns manufactured by the Springfield Armory.

Good. The barrel, lock and steel components are bright. The barrel has scattered light pitting at the muzzle and adjacent to the bolster. There is heavier flash pitting on the rear sight, hammer, lock plate and primer door. The maynard tape primer is complete and functional. The inspection markings on the barrel and lock plate are very clear. The eagle motif on the primer door is faint. The brass furniture on the pistol and buttstock is in good overall condition with minor scratches and handling marks. The brass has been polished but is developing an age patina. The pistol stock is in good overall condition. The wood has been lightly sanded and re-oiled and there is an old, well-executed repair at the end of the lock plate and a hairline crack in the right side of the pistol grip and left shoulder stock wrist. This is a solid representative example of the unique and historically significant U.S. Springfield Model 1855 Pistol-Carbine.