While speaking of the South, English immigrants from England, Ferdinand and Francis Cook determined "that rifles could be made here as well as in Yankee land or in Europe”, and proceeded to open a weapon manufactory at Number One, Canal Street in New Orleans in June of 1861. Mr. Cook knew what he was talking about and what he was doing. The rifle they produced was said by a Confederate ordnance officer to be "superior to any that I have seen of Southern manufacture." And its quality truly was not excelled in the South, and, with the exception of the raw materials, not in the world.

With the fall of New Orleans in April 1862 the company moved to Athens, Georgia. There they set up a manufactory to produce rifles, carbines, bayonets swords, carbine slings, pikes, etc.

This carbine is Cook serial number 3150, and is very well marked. The lock is stamped with the Confederate First National Flag and "Cook & Brother Athens GA. 1863”. The serial number 3150 is stamped into the lock plate, the barrel, the rear barrel band, the front barrel band, the nose cap, the heads of the lock screws and the head of the breech tang screw and the word "PROVED” is deeply stamped into the barrel opposite of the nipple. The year stamped into the barrel just above the serial number is still mostly visible, but weak. Many of the small internal parts are marked with the same serial number or the last two digits. In other words, this is one 100% correct, with the exception of the wrong, but original to the period, ramrod, and possibly the front sling swivel. I say possibly because it is clear that the screw is original, and has not been out for many long years, so it may have left the factory this way, but I want to be upfront and say that I would expect it to be brass. The action works perfectly; the bore has good strong rifling and it is an exceptionally well-marked gun.

The stock is in very good condition overall, having only minor dings and dents and a beautiful overall patina, save for at the wrist. As shown in the photographs the wrist of the gun has been broken in two and repaired. I suspect the gun was intentionally damaged during the War, as the repair is very, very old and there is no pretense at hiding it. The natural patina over the repair makes in hardly noticeable in real life; the photo makes it much more noticeable than it is.

The gun’s lock is in excellent condition, with all of the marks being very clear, especially the Confederate Flag. The barrel is in very good condition with really noticeable metal twist marks visible; it appears at some time the area around the nipple was sanded to remove some of the pitting caused by the powder and recolored and this was not many years ago.

These carbines are extremely, extremely rare and this is, despite its faults, a very nice example of this rare gun.

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