Starr Cartridge Carbine
Starr Arms Company · Carbine · Discontinued · 1865
Also known as: Starr Model 1865 Carbine, Starr Metallic Cartridge Carbine
Overview
The Starr Cartridge Carbine is a single-shot, breech-loading cavalry carbine chambered for the .56-50 Spencer metallic rimfire cartridge. Introduced in 1865, it was a conversion of Starr's earlier .54 caliber percussion carbine, adapted late in the American Civil War by replacing the breechblock, hammer, and barrel to fire the new self-contained metallic cartridge. It retains the falling-block (split-breech) action operated by an underlever, allowing a mounted trooper to load a single cartridge quickly from the breech.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3357 g (118.4 oz) |
| Overall Length | 952 mm (37.48") |
| Barrel Length | 533 mm (20.98") |
| Action Type | Falling Block |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Magazine Type | None |
| Muzzle Velocity | 274 m/s (899 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 850 J (627 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 180 m (197 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 550 m (601 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .56-50 Spencer · primary — also known as .56-50, .52 rimfire
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Single Shot
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Saddle Ring, Underlever Breech, Split Breech Block
Service history
Operators
- United States Army · adopted 1865
Conflicts
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
- American Indian Wars (1865-1891)
Production
Estimated total produced: 5,000 · Production years: 1865-1867
Roughly 5,000 cartridge-model carbines produced; initial U.S. Army order was for 3,000 in 1865 in addition to earlier percussion production.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Ebenezer Townsend Starr
Discontinued: 1867
Notes
The U.S. Ordnance Department ordered 3,000 cartridge-converted Starr carbines in 1865, beginning near serial number 30,000; total cartridge-model production is generally cited at about 5,000. The metallic-cartridge conversion arrived too late to see significant combat use before the war ended, and many were sold as surplus for frontier use.
Background
Starr Arms of Yonkers, New York, was one of the major suppliers of cavalry carbines and revolvers to the Union during the Civil War. When the self-contained metallic cartridge made percussion arms obsolete, Starr converted its proven falling-block carbine to the .56-50 Spencer rimfire round, but the war ended before the redesign could prove itself in the field.