The Palmer carbine holds the distinction of being the first metallic cartridge bolt action firearm ever adopted by the U.S. Ordnance Department. The bolt does not contain a firing pin and is simply used to seat the cartridge and seal the breech. It fires with a traditional side lock. Approximately 1,001 of these carbines were ordered by the U.S. government but arrived too late to see action during the Civil War. It has small "M.M" (Miles Moulton) inspector initials on the left of the breech, left stock flat and top of the stock, and a circled script "MM" inspection cartouche on the left stock flat. Includes a rare Palmer combination screwdriver tool and a tampion. Provenance: The Donald Bates Collection