Scarce Civil War Triplett & Scott Kentucky Carbine With 22" Barrel (AL5268)

There were 2,000 22” barrel carbines made by the Meriden manufacturing company, Meriden, CT. Between 1864 and 1865. The .50 caliber Rimfire barrel has an excellent bore. There is a seven-shot magazine tube in the butt. The operation of the action is unusual. Depressing the latch behind the hammer frees the barrel to be rotated, extracting the fired cartridge, then rotating further to line up with the magazine, and then on around to the firing position. The barrel and receiver have approximately 95% blue. The action has traces of case colors. The wood is very good with light issue dings and dents. Most of these carbines have nasty cracks in the butt near the magazine tube area. This carbine has about a 2½” crack in this area, hardly noticeable. The left stock near the butt plate has the small block letter inspectors’ mark (N/ W.B.). Has two sling swivels at the top and bottom of the butt. The tang is marked “Triplett & Scott/ patent Dec. 6. 1864”. The left side of the receiver is marked “Kentucky”. Kentucky contracted for 5,000 Triplett & Scott carbines, with 3,000 having 30” barrels, in January 1865 for home guard units protecting Union supply lines. The action on the carbine functions correctly with the exception that half cock can be released by a trigger pull. These 22” barrel carbines are rarely seen in the condition of this one. It would fit any Civil War carbine or Kentucky collection.