page_title: Colt Model 1839 Carbine
section_title: Overview
hierarchical_section_title: Colt Model 1839 Carbine / Overview
caption_attribution_description: English: Model 1839 Carbine Patent
context_page_description: The Colt Model 1839 Carbine is an early percussion revolving smoothbore carbine manufactured by the Patent Arms Manufacturing Company between 1838 and 1841. Produced alongside the Colt Second Model Ring Lever rifle, the Model 1839 was the most popular longarm of the Patent Arms period. The Model 1839 Carbine is differentiated from Colt's Ring Lever rifles by the lack of a cocking ring lever and the presence of an external hammer, which, when manually cocked, would rotate the six-shot cylinder to the next position. Approximately 950 Model 1839 Carbines were manufactured, and an additional shotgun variant, the Model 1839 Shotgun, was produced from 1839 to 1841 with approximately 225 manufactured. Though the United States Navy and Texas Navy purchased a number of Model 1839 Carbines, sales suffered due to the gun's high price and quality control issues.
context_section_description: The Model 1839 Carbine features a standard 24-inch (61 cm) round barrel with a browned finish. The other metal parts are blued.  Although the 24-inch barrel length is most common, 28-inch (71 cm) and 32-inch (81 cm) lengths were produced. The overall length of the 24-inch carbine is 43 inches (110 cm) and the weight of the firearm is 10 ¹⁄₂ pounds (4.8 kg). Unlike Colt Ring Lever rifles, the Model 1839 Carbine features a smoothbore barrel that is chambered in .525 caliber. The 2 ¹⁄₂-inch (6.4 cm) six-shot cylinder features an elaborate roll scene including depictions of a naval battle, the Battle of Bunker Hill, and a hunter with lion. The front and rear edges of the cylinder were originally square, though by late production, the rear cylinder edge was rounded. Loading levers affixed to the right side of the frame were not present on early models, becoming standard during mid-production in August 1840. The stock is varnished walnut and the buttplate features a rounded heel.
  The trigger guard on the Model 1839 Carbine is an oval in shape and features a "rearward spur" that continues along the bottom of the stock a short distance before curling back forming a small open circle. The Model 1839 is distinguished from the larger Ring Lever rifles by the lack of a ring lever in front of the trigger guard and the presence of an external hammer. Cocking the external hammer back rotates the cylinder to the next position.
caption: A patent of the Colt Model 1839 Carbine
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