Starr carbine
A breechloading carbine used by U.S. cavalry in the Civil War.
The Starr carbine was a breechloading single-shot rifle used by the United States Army. Designed in 1858, the Starr was primarily used by cavalry soldiers in the American Civil War.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- United States
- Used by
- United States
- Japan
- Bunyoro
- Wars
- American Civil War
- Boshin War
- American Indian Wars
- Designer
- Ebenezer Starr
- Designed
- 1858
- Manufacturer
- Starr Arms Company
- Produced
- 1858–1867
- Length
- 37.5 in / 95.2 cm
Facts from the source article.
History
In January 1858, Ebenzer Starr brought a single-shot breech-loading rifle to the Washington Armory for testing. The gun performed flawlessly with no misfires and showed better-than-average accuracy. Reviewers noted that if its gas seal were tightened, it could outperform the Sharps carbine. The design was accepted as the Model 1858 carbine. The Starr Arms Company in Yonkers, New York, built over 20,000 of these between 1861 and 1864. The carbine originally used paper or linen cartridges. In 1865, the government placed an order for 3,000 Starr carbines modified to accept metal cartridges. Those worked well, leading to a follow-up order for 2,000 more. Despite its solid performance in the Civil War, the carbine failed to impress the U.S. Army trials board in 1865, and no further orders came. During the conflict, Starr Arms ranked fifth among carbine suppliers and third in making .44 caliber single-action pistols. But once the war ended and government contracts dried up, the company could not keep up with bigger names like Winchester, Sharps, and Colt. Starr Arms shut down in 1867.
Design and features
The Starr carbine shared design features with the Sharps carbine, but its receiver was longer. A noticeable web connected the breech lever’s tail to the underside of the butt. Its barrel measured .54 caliber and 21 inches, with an overall length of 37.65 inches and a weight of 7.4 pounds. No bayonet could be attached. The rear sight had three positions: a standing block and two folding leaves. It used paper or linen cartridges ignited by standard percussion caps. Reliable function depended on keeping the long flash channel clean.
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