Original U.S. Civil War Era Type 2 Frank Wesson Two-Trigger .32 Caliber Single Shot Carbine with Peep Sight - Serial 4361

Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent Frank Wesson .32 caliber single-shot breech loading rifle in good condition. It is a top-break design that features a 24" octagonal barrel, and this example bears serial number 4361 on the trigger guard. The "Two-Trigger" single shot design had undergone several improvements over the years, and the 1862 patent added the use of a slotted link to stop the barrel from pivoting too far, which made the gun much easier and quicker to load. The original post 1862 design with the link on the right side is usually referred to as the "Type 1", while the slightly later version with the link on the left side and an ejector on the right side is the "Type 2".

There were already other single shot carbines in use, such as the Sharps and Smith Carbines, but these were both "capping breech loaders" that required an additional percussion cap. The Wesson Two Trigger was able to have a higher rate of fire due to this. During the Civil War, Frank Wesson supplied approximately 3,000 of these carbines in .44 long rimfire to B. Kittredge & Company of Cincinnati. Kittredge then supplied 760 to Indiana, 1,366 to Kentucky, and others to Kansas and Missouri. Most were then issued to units from those states.

Others, such as this lovely example of a Type 2 Carbine, were often privately purchased, and then used after the war as sporting rifles. The top of the barrel still bears standard barrel marking, which is fully intact and crisp:

FRANK WESSON WORCESTER MASS.
PAT'D OCT 25 1859 & NOV 11 1862

This carbine has a blade front sight, with a fixed rear sight on top of the barrel, as well as an adjustable "peep" sight mounted to the receiver tang. This looks like it is actually a piece of the receiver, though it may have been added later. The butt stock on this example is a very attractive walnut with a great grain, fitted with an iron hooked butt plate. It does however have some cracking on both sides running down from the tang of the receiver, which has not been repaired.

The two-trigger breech release system functions exactly as it should, only allowing the forward trigger to open in the half cock position, and not at any other time. The ejector on the right side of the breech present, a rarity, though the internal spring is missing, so it will not snap back by itself. The catch on the left side of the barrel that keeps the breech from opening to far is missing, as they often are.

This gun does not seem to have seen much use, and the barrel still has much of the original blued finish. There is even some case hardening left on the receiver and associated parts, though there is also a bit of past peppering in areas. The bore is in very good condition, showing a bright finish with clear lands and grooves. There is just a bit of past fouling and oxidation, now cleaned away, making this a really remarkable bore from the era of black powder.

A very rare civil war era sporting carbine in great shape, ready to research and display!

Specifications-

Years of Manufacture: circa 1863-76
Caliber: .32 rimfire
Cartridge Type: Rimfire
Barrel Length: 24 Inches
Overall Length: 38 3/4 Inches
Action type: Top Action Hammer Lock.

In July 1862, Brigadier-General J. T. Boyle of Kentucky complained about Gallagher guns, calling them 'worthless'. He stated that 'They snap often, the cartridge hangs in after firing; difficult to get the exploded cartridges out often with screw-driver; men throw them away and take musket or any other arm. They are unquestionably worthless.' He then requested 'Sharps, Wessons, Ballards, or any other kind of carbine.' He mentioned that Wesson carbines can be had for $25 or less from Cincinnati.

The Wesson carbine was used primarily by the Union armies, as the Confederacy did not manufacture rim fire cartridges. However, in November 1862, the Confederacy did arrange for the smuggling of 10 Wesson rifles, and 5,000 cartridges to Texas, via Cuba. These rifles were smuggled by Harris Hoyt, who was brought to trial in January 1865. The rifles at that time cost $25 each, the cartridges $11 per thousand.

Wesson carbines were in use at battle of Gettysburg in 1863, and at the battle of Westport in 1864.

In January 1863, the state of Ohio had 150 Wesson carbines on hand. At that time, they also had 54,000 Wesson cartridges. The 11th Cavalry regiment was issued 100 Wesson carbines and 400 Spencer repeating rifles. The states of Kentucky and Illinois purchased 2000 for their state militias.

In July 1863, in a letter to Major S.B. Shaw, St. Louis, Mo, T.F. Robinson, Quartermaster-General of Kentucky reported that portions of two Kentucky regiments had been armed with the "Wesson Cartridge Rifle", were pleased with it, and would not exchange it for any other rifle.

Following the Lawrence Massacre on August 21, 1863, the surviving men formed a rifle company, using Wesson rifles. These weapons, along with their revolvers were carried at all times.

Kentucky purchased 1366 Wesson carbines, Indiana purchased 760 for their cavalry, from B. Kittredge & Co., Cincinnati, and the numbers for Ohio, Kansas and Missouri are not known. Individual soldiers of Kansas and Missouri purchased an unknown number of these rifles. Missouri had over 690 in their regimental armories in 1864.

In 1862, the 7th Kentucky Cavalry was issued 500 Wesson carbines at a price of $25 each. In the summer of 1863, individuals from the 11th Regiment, 1st Battalion, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, purchased 200 Wesson rifles. Companies I and L were also issued Wesson rifles by the state. At least 300 individuals from the 5th Missouri State Militia (MSM) Cavalry purchased this weapon during the war, some of which were used during Price's Raid. In that raid, the men of the 5th were placed on specific parts of the battlefield in order to take advantage of their more rapid rate of fire. Troopers from the 3rd MSM also carried Wesson carbines. At that time, the cost of this carbine was $40 each. The 48th Illinois Infantry carried an unknown number of Wesson carbines, and ran out of ammunition for these rifles during the Battle of Ezra Church (part of the Atlanta campaign) on July 28, 1864. During that battle, some regiments expended 100 bullets per soldier. At the Battle of Westport, also during Price's Raid, some men of the 19th Kansas State Militia carried this rifle.

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