One of some 4,000 carbines produced, the .52 caliber, percussion breech-loading Gwyn & Campbell carbine was the invention of businessmen Edward Gwyn and partner Abner C. Campbell. Sometimes referred to as the Union Carbine or Grapevine Carbine, the Gwyn & Campbell Type 2 is the most common encountered in the collecting field and was the successor to the Cosmopolitan Arms Company carbine of Hamilton, Ohio. The U.S. Ordnance Dept. granted over a dozen contracts to Gwyn & Campbell during 1863 and 1864 for a total of 8,202 carbines.  A number of Federal cavalry units were armed with this weapon and included the 3rd Wisconsin; 2nd and 3rd Iowa; 2nd & 3rd Arkansas; 5th and 8th Ohio; 5th, 6th and 16th Illinois along with other Civil War units.

Weapon is a single shot, falling-block action piece mated to a 20” round barrel that has an octagonal section at the breech. This specimen exhibits all iron mountings with a barrel that is a mottled gray with hints of blue near the muzzle. Bore is excellent. Some case colors remain on frame and lockplate.

Hammer has a flat back with a beveled edge and a lever that is not as serpentine as the Type 1 model.  Lever locks into a small claw-like vertical mounted latch on bottom of the stock.  Specimen bears serial # 2793 and is stamped with maker’s mark of “GWYN & CAMPBELL / PATENT / 1862 / HAMILTON, O.” on the lockplate.  Weapon is also thinly stamped with “UNION / RIFLE” on the obverse side of the frame beneath the nipple area.  A long base rear sight sits on the octagon frame.  Carbine exhibits strong mechanics and is fitted with a sling bar and ring.

Wood stock is dark with some minor scratches. There are two crisp inspector cartouches visible on left side near the frame. Wood has some minor scattered pinholes in this area.

Screws show light wear.

This Type II Gwyn & Campbell carbine is a fine representative cavalry arm of the Civil War and would definitely enhance any military carbine display or collection.  [ad]

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