In 1839, 1,000 Model 1836 carbines were ordered from Harpers Ferry. These guns, known as “Type II” Model 1836s, included some minor changes from the earlier Model 1836 carbines. These 1,000 carbines were all manufactured and delivered in 1839, and again, the majority of them ended up seeing service with the 2nd Regiments of Dragoons in Florida, fighting the Seminoles. In all, only 2,020 Harpers Ferry Model 1836 Hall carbines were produced, including the Type I, Type II and prototype and experimental carbines. This is also one of the few instances where a national armory produced a specific pattern of arm for issue to one specific regiment within the regular army.

This Type II Hall carbine is fine condition. The top of the breechblock is clearly marked in three lines: "J.H. Hall/US/1839", as are all Type II Model 1836 carbines. The Model 1836 bears no other markings, nor should it. The action of the carbine functions perfectly. The breechblock pivots smoothly and locks tightly into the battery. The sliding ramrod bayonet functions smoothy. The ramrod bayonet is full-length and retains excellent threads on its reverse end to allow the use of the bayonet as a cleaning rod. The exterior breechblock of the carbine retains about 30% of its original dull blue-black casehardened finish. The barrel of the carbine retains little of its original brown lacquered finish but has nice color and no pitting. The balance of the metal where the brown has worn, shows a medium brownish-gray patina, with some lightly scattered patches of age discoloration. The smooth bore of the carbine rates fine and is mostly bright and smooth. The carbine retains both of its original sights, with the offset rear block and offset blade front sight both in place and undamaged. The original “eye bolt” style sling swivel mount is intact, and a 1 1/2-inch diameter split ring has been added to facilitate attachment to a carbine sling; this was done professionally at a Confederate arsenal or perhaps at the regimental level? The stock of the carbine rates about fine as well. It is full length, solid but for a clean diagonal break on either side of the frame that does not affect soundness and came about as a result of a natural weakness that this place in the stock and the arm being disassembled improperly; there is no wood loss, and this damage could be actually mended and made virtually invisible by a competent gunsmith (please ask us for recommendations).  The stock does show the usual assortment of scattered bumps, dings, and mars from field service, but the surface is otherwise unmolested.

The left side of the stock is wonderfully carved in 1-inch letters, " J.C.", "Co. B", and in the crotch of each arm of a 5-pointed star "T-E-X-A-S" and in the center of this 1 3/4-inch star is "6". This was all absolutely contemporaneously done, ca. 1861, by Sergeant John Chisholm who rode with the regiment from June 1861 until he surrendered with his command in 1865. With it is an old GAR Hall tag that reads "Relic of the Rebellion. Colonel P. H. Flood".

"The Texas 6th Cavalry Regiment [also called 2nd Regiment] was organized with 1,150 men at Dallas, Texas, in September 1861. Many of the men were from Dallas, McKinney, Waco, Austin, and Lancaster, and Bell County. The unit as part of the famous Texas Cavalry Brigade (which consisted of 3rd, 6th, 9th and 27th Texas Cavalry regiments and commanded by Texas Ranger "Sul" Ross.) skirmished in the Indian Territory, fought at Elkhorn Tavern, then moved west of the Mississippi River. It contained 803 effectives in the spring of 1862 and was dismounted during the battles at Corinth and Hatchie Bridge. Here the regiment reported 148 killed, wounded, or missing. Assigned to Ross' Brigade, it served with the Army of Tennessee during the Atlanta Campaign, was active in Tennessee, and ended the war in Mississippi attached to the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana."

This weapon was surrendered to doctor and Colonel Patrick Henry Flood (1814-1886) of the 107th NY Volunteers. His Elmira NY obituary reads in part, "He volunteered in the 107th regiment in 1862, and served throughout the war, sharing as surgeon in the privation, dangers and victory of that glorious regiment. He has since the war devoted himself to the practice of his profession. He twice held the office of mayor, and his record was such as to make him admired and honored even by those opposed to him politically. The funeral services will be held from the residence on East Water Street at 2 o'clock to-morrow afternoon. Fitch post, G.A.R., of which Dr. Flood was surgeon, will attend in a body and will meet for that purpose at the post rooms at 1:30 o'clock. The surviving members of the 107th regiment will also attend." Active after the war Flood placed this carbine along with his dress uniform frock coat, his cap and slouch hat and his 2 swords (one was inscribed with a dozen battle honors) in his local GAR Hall.

These other items were sold this past year separately from the carbine. The carbine was purchased by an advanced Confederate arms collector. The grouping prior to this belonged to Dr. Edward Burka. "Brig. Gen. Edward Burka died Jan. 9, 2021. He was 90. As a doctor in the medical corps, he voluntarily entered the Airborne-Special Forces, where he became a master parachutist. In 1958 and 1959, he was a jumpmaster at Wiesbaden Air Force Base in Germany. From 1979 to 1983, he was the U.S. Army’s Deputy to the Surgeon General for Mobilization, responsible for planning logistics for the evacuation of U.S. cities in the event of a nuclear or biological disaster. He was also an avid collector of and expert on U.S. medical military insignia, uniforms, and instruments." The Flood grouping had been in his major and beloved collection decades.

A great condition museum worthy Confederate cavalry identified carbine. And Texas too!  [pe] [ph:L]

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