Keen-Walker Carbine
Keen, Walker & Company · Carbine · Discontinued · 1862
Also known as: Keen Walker & Co. Carbine, Keen-Walker Breech-Loading Carbine, Keen, Walker & Co. Tilting Breech Carbine
Overview
The Keen-Walker Carbine is a single-shot, breech-loading percussion carbine produced by Keen, Walker & Company of Danville, Virginia, for the Confederate cavalry during the American Civil War. Swinging the trigger-guard lever down pivots the breechblock upward, exposing the chamber for loading a ball and powder charge or a paper cartridge; a percussion cap fitted to a nipple at the rear of the breechblock fires the piece. Bored to .54 caliber and rifled with seven lands and grooves, the carbine combined a brass frame with an iron breechblock and case-hardened iron furniture. Only 282 were delivered to the Danville Arsenal in 1862, making it among the rarest of Confederate breechloaders.
Specifications
| Overall Length | 1016 mm (40.00") |
| Barrel Length | 546 mm (21.50") |
| Action Type | Falling Block |
| Firing Mechanism | Percussion |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Effective Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 400 m (437 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 7 |
| Frame Material | Brass |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .54 Caliber Ball · primary — also known as 54 cal round ball, 13.7mm ball, .54 caliber
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Single Shot Breech Loading
- Features: Trigger Guard Lever Breech, Tilting Breechblock, Iron Breechblock, Extended Tangs
Service history
Operators
- Confederate States Army · adopted 1862
Conflicts
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
Production
Estimated total produced: 282 · Production years: 1862
All 282 carbines were delivered to the Danville Arsenal between May and September 1862; very few examples survive today.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Keen, Walker & Company
Discontinued: 1862
Notes
Guns bear no exterior markings save a single-letter proof mark indicating Confederate acceptance. The first 101 carbines were purchased at $50 each and the remaining 181 at $40 each. Keen, Walker & Company also subcontracted Hall rifle conversions through the Read & Watson firm in Danville.
Background
Designed in the supply-starved early-war Confederacy, the Keen-Walker echoed the simplicity of Northern Maynard and Perry carbines while relying on locally available brass. Its tiny production run and Danville origin make surviving examples prized Confederate collector pieces.