Around 20,000 New Model 1863 carbines with iron patch boxes were manufactured during the Civil War. This one has the standard markings and features and also has an eagle holding a banner marked "I IOWA CAV." carved into the right side of the stock. The 1st Iowa Volunteer Cavalry were mustered in the late summer of 1861 and mustered out on February 18, 1866, at Austin, Texas. The regiment had the honor of being the first three year volunteer cavalry organization accepted by the U.S. Government during the war. Most of the unit was ordered into quarters in Burlington on July 2, 1861, and Company M was mustered and originally quartered across the river from our auction house in Davenport, Iowa, in early September 1861. The eagle is similar to the design on the regiment flag, and the unit is known to have been issued Sharps carbines. Initially they were armed with only handguns and sabers until their carbines arrived. They served in the western theater, including engagements in the fight against Quantrill's Raiders.