02 American North & Savage Carbine, 1856‒1859

Fotogalerie

The design of this unusual carbine is sometimes referred to as the North & Skinner carbine, as Henry S. North collaborated with Chauncy D. Skinner (they received a patent on 1 June 1852). Between 1856 and 1859, the carbine was manufactured in small numbers by Edward Savage’s firm in Middletown, Connecticut (which had no relation to the later Savage company of New York State). Of the approximately 600 pieces produced, about 20% had a .60 calibre shotgun barrel, the remaining 80% had a .44 calibre rifled barrel.

The octagonal barrel of the presented specimen is grooved and is labelled on the top with “NORTH & SAVAGE, MIDDLETOWN, CONN” and “CAST-STEEL”; the left side bears the patenting date “PATENTED JUNE 1, 1852”. Behind the deadbolt in the large trigger guard is a lever with a ring used to tension the mechanism and move the smooth six-chambered cylinder. By moving the cylinder forward, the front of the chamber surrounds the rear of the barrel when fired, preventing the escape of powder gases.

Length 1,084 mm, barrel length 571 mm, calibre 11.5 mm, weight 3,496 g.