The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Unidentified, Very Old .51 .Cal Rimmed Cartridge

**Mike Irwin** · January 8, 2012, 01:31 PM

"(and no primer)"

Nope. They were externally primed, like the Burnsides, Gallagher, and Smith carbines of the same time frame (Civil War era). The cartridge was loaded and a percussion cap placed on a nipple to fire the round.

Cartridges and carbines like these are best termed transitional, because they fall right in between the muzzle loading caplock rifled musket and the breech loading rim and center fire weapons like the Spencer and later Winchesters.

Here's an article on the Maynard carbine (a reproduction in this case) showing both the carbine with separate priming nipple and a picture of the case and other components.

http://www.civilwarguns.com/9804.html

January 8, 2012, 01:31 PM	#8
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,389	"(and no primer)" Nope. They were externally primed, like the Burnsides, Gallagher, and Smith carbines of the same time frame (Civil War era). The cartridge was loaded and a percussion cap placed on a nipple to fire the round. Cartridges and carbines like these are best termed transitional, because they fall right in between the muzzle loading caplock rifled musket and the breech loading rim and center fire weapons like the Spencer and later Winchesters. Here's an article on the Maynard carbine (a reproduction in this case) showing both the carbine with separate priming nipple and a picture of the case and other components. http://www.civilwarguns.com/9804.html __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.