The carbine shown here is one of 1,923 carbines produced in 1864 by the Richmond Armory. This is a 100%, Richmond Armory manufactured, two band carbine in good condition. It has a screwed brass nose cap, a brass butt-plate and iron bands. You will notice from the pictures that the bands have been stamped with the "U” to indicate which way to turn the band when reassembling. The "U” is not in line with the spring band retainer, nor are they stamped evenly, whereas Federal bands line up with the spring retainer perfectly time and time again. This was due to the Confederates stamping them by hand whereas the Federals used a jig. Another Richmond carbine characteristic is that the front band spring is an eighth of an inch shorter than the rear spring. I also pulled the lock and there is no tape primer cutout. By these characteristics we can identify the bands and stock as Richmond products. The brass butt-plate is a Richmond product and is totally unmarked. The Armory used any barrels that it could salvage in making carbines, but carbines utilizing these Richmond made barrels are the most desirable to modern collectors. This carbine’s barrel has the elongated site groove found only on Richmond manufactured barrels. The lock has the standard markings; CS Richmond, VA. forward of the hammer and 1864 behind. The barrel’s breech is marked for viewed "V” and proved "P”, only the right side of the "V” and right top of the "P” remain visible.

The carbine is in good overall condition. The gun’s sling swivels have been removed (probably for post-bellum hunting service), and the hole in the stock where the rear sling swivel once screwed in has been replaced with a decorative bone inlay. This inlay, along with the wood surrounding it, has been carved into a sunburst like pattern. Notably the ramrod is an original Richmond produced rod, this is so uncommon, that the ramrod alone is worth a thousand dollars. The stock is in excellent condition, with a beautiful darkened patina. The ramrod channel remains in perfect condition. The fit is perfect, with very nice edges. There is virtually no powder burnout on the wood beside the nipple. The carbine is an absolutely 100% Richmond produced product, but is missing the sling swivels as mentioned above.

Often, supposed Richmond’s are made of put together parts; this is the most dangerous factor to the novice collector buying a Richmond product, in fact I examine many dozens of so-called Richmond products that were recently assembled, in order to find one that is really an original Richmond product.

The barrel and lock are darkened with age; the lock’s markings remain deep and clear. The trigger guard has significant surface rust. The action still works perfectly. The Richmond factory adjustable rear site remains fully operational with smooth action. It is interesting to notice on the reverse lock flat that the washers surrounding the lock retaining screws are not even close to perfectly round, but yet are seated in the wood perfectly.

Richmond Carbines are not common today, and it is very rare for one to retain its original Richmond produced factory ramrod.