Richardson Mahlon Gallagher 1860 Car .50BP

Make: Richardson
Model: Mahlon Gallagher 1860 Car
Caliber: .50BP
Action: Breach
Barrel: 22.25
Bore: Dark
Serial # 10323
Condition: Good
This early example of a single shot, breech loading, .50 caliber, percussion model Gallagher carbine issued to the Federal cavalry during the Civil War. Mahlon J. Gallagher, a South Carolina native, developed the weapon while he resided in Savannah Georgia in July 1860. From Richardson factory in Philadelphia, the firm produced almost 18,000 of these carbines for the Federal government from 1861 to 1865. These carbines saw extended service with Union horsesoldiers during the war but the weapon was not well liked by the troopers due to the difficulty in extracting the spent cartridge casings from the breech. The Gallager featured a breech loading mechanism which consisted of a lever / trigger guard combination that when pushed down, allowed the barrel to slide forward and tilt up and away from the barrel. Though Gallager boasted that his design would facilitate the easy removal of the spent casing from the breech, this extraction action was the major defect of his weapon. It features a 22.25″ long barrel, leaf rear sight, iron blade front sight, barrel wears a light plum-colored patina and exhibits scattered light pinprick rusting overall. No original colors visible. Stamping �GALLAGER / PATENTED JULY 17TH 1860� on lock plate thin but visible. Fitted with a sling bar with saddle ring on the left side of the breech frame, black walnut stock exhibits its original iron patch box on the right side, and curved steel buttplate. No cartouches or sub-inspector stampings visible. A good early Gallager cavalry carbine of the Civil War. Please see photos. C&R