Approximately 4,000 of these unique rifles were manufactured from 1859 to the early 1860s; 900 for a U.S. contract and 3,000 for a Russian contract, with none of the Russian examples known. These rifles are believed to have seen limited action at the Battle of Antietam. The Greene used two bullets at a time, one in front of the powder charge for the actual projectile, and one behind the charge to act as a gas seal. Although the bore appears smooth, it actually has an oval type of rifling invented by London gunmaker Charles Lancaster. It is marked "GREENE'S PATENT/NOV. 17 1857." on the upper tang. The bolt is numbered "3367."