Tarpley Carbine
J. & F. Garrett and Company · Carbine · Discontinued · 1863
Also known as: Tarpley Breech-Loading Carbine, Garrett Carbine, J.F. Garrett Carbine
Overview
The Tarpley Carbine is a single-shot, breech-loading percussion carbine produced in the Confederate States during the American Civil War. Designed by Jere H. Tarpley of Greensboro, North Carolina, who received a Confederate patent in February 1863, it was manufactured by J. & F. Garrett and Company of Greensboro during 1863-1864. Chambered in .52 caliber and fed a combustible paper cartridge, it used a solid metal breechblock that slid vertically within a brass receiver when the trigger-guard lever was operated, with ignition supplied by a separate external percussion cap. Its lack of an effective gas seal at the breech allowed erosive propellant gases to escape, and it was offered for private sale, an unusual distinction among Confederate arms.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2700 g (95.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1016 mm (40.00") |
| Barrel Length | 587 mm (23.11") |
| Action Type | Falling Block |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Muzzle Velocity | 290 m/s (951 fps) |
| Effective Range | 180 m (197 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 900 m (984 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Brass |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .52 Caliber Percussion · primary — also known as .52 cal, .52 caliber paper cartridge, .52 combustible cartridge
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Single Shot Breech
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Brass Receiver, Vertical Sliding Breechblock, Trigger Guard Lever, External Percussion Lock, Rear Post Sight
Service history
Operators
- Confederate States Army · adopted 1863
- Waul's Texas Legion · adopted 1863
Conflicts
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
Production
Estimated total produced: 400 · Production years: 1863-1864
Roughly 400 carbines were produced over about one year before manufacture ceased.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Jere H. Tarpley
Discontinued: 1864
Notes
The breechblock's poor obturation let highly erosive gases escape between the block and the barrel, a major flaw of the design. Only a few hundred were made before production ended, making surviving examples rare collector pieces. Notable as the only Confederate firearm offered for sale to the general public.
Background
Jere H. Tarpley patented his breech-loader through the Confederate government in February 1863, and J. & F. Garrett of Greensboro put it into limited production. Despite the South's desperate need for arms, the carbine's leaky breech and modest output left it a curiosity, and the few that survive are prized by collectors, including an example identified to Waul's Texas Legion.