Original U.S. Civil War Burnside Carbine Ammunition Pack Wrapper - 4⅝ x 10”

Original Item. Only One Available. The Burnside, one of the best carbines of the Civil War, was designed by one of its worst generals. Actually, Maj. Gen. Ambrose Everett Burnside had sold the interest in his breechloader well before the war started, so he was unencumbered with the need to further its development or, sadly, to reap the proceeds that would have resulted from its success as the conflict’s third most widely produced Federal carbine, after the Sharps and Spencer. Burnside’s invention employed a rotating block, released by a loading lever that was activated by a hinged, clamping catch. It chambered a unique .54-cal. cone-shaped brass cartridge with a thick, rounded belt (there were also some earlier, coiled cases, sans belt) at its mouth and a small hole in the base that allowed ignition from a separate percussion cap. The round was loaded, base down, into the chamber. Next, the lever was closed and the block locked in place with the belt halfway between the chamber and barrel, providing an excellent seal.

This is a great wrapper from an ammunition pack for the Burnside Carbine. The wrapper measures roughly 4⅝ x 10” and is mostly complete, but there is a hole in the label as shown. The label reads:

10 Cartridges
WITH 12 CAPS
FOR THE
BURNSIDE
BREECH LOADING RIFLE
Patented March 25, 1856
CALIBER 54/100
MADE BY THE
BURNSIDE RIFLE CO.
PROVIDENCE, R.I.

A great example worthy of framing. Ready to display!