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 at .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. 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 number "1993" marked on the bottom of the barrel and flat of the action, and smooth walnut buttstock with casehardened buttplate. A scanned copy is included of the American Society of Arms Collectors article "James Lee, Wisconsin Arms Inventor, 1860-1874" by Herb Uphoff in which a very detailed history of these firearms is laid out. This exact Lee carbine is pictured on pages 84-85 of the book "U.S. Civil War Carbines" by Whisker, Yantz and Hartzler.

Very good plus with strong traces of original blue finish on some of the edges of the barrel and in protected areas with otherwise smooth gray and brown patina, scattered surface spotting, a few patches of light pitting, defined barrel markings, and strong traces of case colors visible on the buttplate. Stock is also very good with numerous scattered scratches and dents, a gouge in the left, and defined edges. Mechanically excellent. This desirable Civil War era Lee Fire Arms Co. saddle ring carbine is the missing piece in many U.S. martial firearms collections!