These carbines were designed by James Paris Lee and manufactured by the Lee Fire Arms Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Though Lee is most famous for his bolt action and detachable box magazine design, the first production arms manufactured based on Lee's designs were these single shot carbines. The barrels were subcontracted to Remington, but an error in communication and/or the U.S. Ordnance Department's desire to not pay for the arms after the conclusion of the war led to the government rejecting the whole batch of carbines due to the carbines being bored out to .42 caliber like the trial arms instead of the .44 caliber mentioned in communications from Chief of Ordnance Brigadier General A.B. Dyer. Only 255 carbines were completed by November 1866, and approximately 200 more were nearly complete. Other components were also outsourced, but they were assembled in Milwaukee. A very detailed history of these firearms is laid out in the article "James Lee, Wisconsin Arms Inventor, 1860-1874" by Herb Uphoff available through the American Society of Arms Collectors. With the hammer at half cock, the side swing barrel opens for loading from the right. It has a "pinched" blade front sight, two leaf 500 yard rear sight, "LEE'S FIRE ARMS CO. MILWAUKEE, WIS./PATD JULY 22D 1862." marked on the left of the barrel, a saddle ring bar and ring mounted on the left of the action, matching serial numbers on the barrel and action, and smooth buttstock.

Very good, exhibits a smooth gray patina on the iron surfaces with some scattered light pitting, and otherwise defined markings. Stock is fine as lightly sanded and re-oiled with some scattered light scratches and dents. Mechanically excellent.