Smith Carbine - Cavalry

[twines]

Hey,

I picked up an real nice Smith Cavalry. I am trying to search the serial number 12274 to see if I can find some history. I need some resources.

Thanks

Tom Wines
McGregors

[ms3635v]

Hey Tom,

Based on the Government procurement records for the Smith Carbine, it appears that serial number was probably issued between July and September 1863 (Carbines of the Civil War by John D. McAulay, page 39).

[John Holland]

I've received a PM on this and have decided to answer in the public forum format for the benefit of all.

First of all, there are duplicate serial numbers for Smith Carbines. This is because they were produced by two companies, and each company started at serial # 1. The very first Smith Carbines delivered and issued were those made by the Mass. Arms Co., nearly all of which were issued. To find a Mass Arms Smith in excellent condition is a real chore for the collector. The second lot are those made by the American Machine Works, of which many thousands upon thousands were never issued, which is why you can still find them in unfired condition. A highly skilled researcher, who prefers to remain anonymous, told me with great certainty that those few Smith Carbine serial numbers that do show up in the various regimental archives are most definitly Mass Arms Co. numbers.

The only publicly accessible Smith Carbine serial numbers are those included in the four volume set of soft bound serial number books as done by the old Springfield Research Service, when it was owned and operated by Frank Mallory, who was a gentleman in all respects. They are long out of print and the new owner flat out refuses to reprint them. There is a much longer, less than pleasant story here, which I don't feel like typing in at this time. If you can find a set of these books on the secondary market they usually run somewhere in $400 plus range.

JDH

[twines]

Thanks John.

[ms3635v]

Hey John,

Never noticed this until you mentioned it here. I looked at my two Smith's and see that the receivers are stamped differently.

1316 Serial #1XX 1317 Serial # 65XX

[Bruce Cobb 1723V]

Thanks John, One more bit of information is that that there is no such thing as an Artillery carbine, as a lot of us call them. There are two models of the Cavalry types. The very 1st carbines received were the ones with two sling swivels. After awhile in use, the government asked that they all start to be made with a receiver type single swivel, AKA ... the 2nd model. I think both types 1 and 2 were made by Mass Arms but can't remember if the other company only made the type 2.