American Military Shoulder Arms, Volume I: Colonial and Revolutionary War Arms

AMERICAN-ASSEMBLED CARBINES

AMERICAN-ASSEMBLED CARBINES Surviving examples of American-assembled Revolutionary War carbines are fairly rare, probably because there were only limited numbers of mounted troops in comparison with infantry. Many of the carbines observed, which have been attributed to Revolutionary War assembly, had actually been assembled sometime later, probably for militia use. The first general inventory of U.S. arms,made after the war in 1793, included a total of 1,920 carbines in the various federal repositories. The majority of these were likelyBritish and French regulation carbines, many ofwhich had undergone substantial repairs. During the war, carbines were often assembled from preexisting carbine and musket metal components. Some were simply shortened from muskets. It is rare to find two carbines that are similar. The descriptions of the two carbines in this section are intended only to be an indication ofthe variations among the carbines used by the mounted forces ofthe American revolutionaries. They cannot be considered typical of any other specific arms. AMERICAN-MODIFIED FRENCH MODEL. 1734 CAVALRY MUSKETOON 048.2 This isa French Model 1734 cavalrymusketoon, asdescribed in Section 070., which has very likely been modified in America by the addition of barrel bands. The stock comb also has been lowered. Specifically, the modifications consist of the following: Barrel Bands: The ramrod thimbles were removed and replaced with three flat brass bands, which are not formed inwards at the upper edge of the forestock, and which resemble the bands used on the French 1728 muskets. Upper Band: The l5 /s" band's two 7 /i6"-wide barrel rings are separated by a rectangular open space. Plate 048.2-A This FrenchModel 1734 cavalry musketoon has been modified by the additionof barrel bands and by lowering the noseof the stock. The bands are similar to those used in French Model 1728 infantry muskets. (Robert Nittolo Collection.) 048. AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDERS ARMS, VOL. 1 Plate 048.2-B In addition to the partially legible French manufactory markings stamped into the lockplate forward of the cock, the lock's tail is surcharged "US." (Robert Nittolo Collection.) Plate 048.2-C "UNITED STATES" isbranded intothe underside of the butt behind the brass trigger guard. This marking indicates that the musketoonwas owned bythe continental government at some time. (Robert Nittolo Collection.) Plate 048.5-A This brassmounted carbine was made using some components that appear to havebeen ofFrench manufacture, which were altered before use in this carbine. Other components are of American manufacture in the Frenchstyle. Middle Band: This band is 9 /i6" wide. Pointed tangs extend forward and rearwards at the top for a total width of 15 /i6". Lower Band: The barrel ring is7 /i6" wide. There are rounded front and rear shoulders at the forestock's upper edge, and the band extends forward at the bottom to I13 /i6" wide. Barrel Band Retainers: The upper band only is nailed to the stock. Stock: The nose of the comb has been lowered so that it intersects the wrist 73 /s" forward of the butt. Markings: In addition to the original French markings, "US" has been stamped into the lockplate, behind the cock. "U.STATES" is branded into the underside of the butt. AMERICAN-ASSEMBLED FRENCH-STYLE CARBINE 048.5 The tapered, round barrel is 34V&" long and has a .715" bore diameter. The 6" by IVs" lock is of the French Model 1766 configuration; however, the 188 AMERICAN ASSEMBLED CARBINES 189 placement and configurations of the lock components are slightly different than any known French regulation arm. The lOVz" brass trigger guard appears to have been altered from another, similar configuration. It has pointed ends, and the bow's front branch ispierced for the lower sling swivel screw. The 4H" butt plate has a round-ended tang extending ZVs" forward at the top. The 35 /s" flat-surfaced side plate is modified "L"-shaped. The three brass bands are secured to the stock by wood screws. The upper band has two Vz^wide barrel rings and is 27 /s" long at the top. The lower edge of the open space isrecurved and exposes the forestock. This band extends forward at the forestock's upper edge and rearwardsat the bottom, to an overall length of 33 /4". The middle band also has two Vz'^wide barrel rings, and is 25 /s" long at the top. A lip extends forward at the bottom for an overall length of 31 /i6"* The lower band...