Joslyn M1862 and M1864 Carbines

While US infantry forces during the Civil War had only limited access to the newest rifle technology, cavalry units adopted a wide variety of new carbines in significant numbers. Among these were a design by Benjamin Joslyn. It first appeared in 1855 designed to use paper cartridges, but by the time the US Army showed an interest Joslyn had updated the weapon to use brass rimfire ammunition. The first version purchased by the government was the 1862 pattern carbine, of which about a thousand were obtained. Many more were ordered, but it took Joslyn a couple years to really get his manufacturing facility and processes worked out. By the time he had this all straightened out, the design had been updated again to the 1864 pattern, addressing several minor problems with the earlier version. Ultimately more than 11,000 of the 1864 pattern carbines were purchased by the Union, chambered for the same .56-.52 cartridge as the Spencer carbines also in service.

[@michaelwyles6313]

Thank you, Those are great looking rifles, 100 years before my wife was born 1964 and the other was 100 years before I was born 1962 awesome, I wish that we could bid on them or I wish we had the money to bid on them it would make for an awesome story to tell around the camp fire on a not so scary night. Thank you again for all you do here we sure do learn a lot of history from you. Happy Shooting 2015

[@thewaraboo2824]

Love these Breech loader videos, very cool to see all the examples of what I guess you could call the Cartridge Revolution. Please keep them coming, Ian :)

[@MrBrown-br7sh]

I love single shot breach loaders. There's something satisfying about shooting them.

[@VegasCyclingFreak]

That is indeed a clever extractor

[@genegarren833]

Excellent video Ian! A very simple but very practical system. Considering the time, much better than a muzzle loading system.

[@Jake_Steiner]

Fun fact, the Army purchased their first Joslyn carbines in 1857 and issued a handful to one company, though I can't recall which one, of the 2nd U.S. Dragoons. (This was how the Cavalry Board was conducting field trials back in the day.) They were first issued with linen cartridges like the first Sharps carbines.

[@chzzyg2698]

I love this show. I want your job Ian, but I wouldn't do it nearly as well. I say it every other episode, gun manufacturers need to pick up on some of these classic designs and modernize them.

[@mykalpennings5968]

I remember first hearing of these in a Louis L'Amour book where the protagonist had a joslyn Carbine and a Shawk & McClanahan revolver

[@badwolf7367]

To Tame a Land, published June 1940. It's interesting that LL knew quite a lot about the more obscure firearms of the period. According to Ian, Shawk and McCLanahan only made 40 to 50 guns.

[@corystreat7605]

Thank you much

[@hellboyfry]

who is the asshat who doesn't like these videos? always 1 dislike!!!!! I love this channel, Ian does a top job of looking at these interesting firearms. thank you so much Ian

[@samuelbean9928]

It is usually some dumbass that voted for bernie

[@planescaped]

I've seen people in comments sections say that they'll dislike a video simply if it has a low number of dislikes. It's the same mentality behind shouting 'first' in the comments section, except even sadder...

[@Afro408]

Interesting actions Ian. Reminiscent of the Werndle. The other improvement you forgot, is the gas escape hole in the top of the breech on the ‘64 model.

[@bradmetcalf7832]

I noticed a difference on the port side of the rotating breech and the trigger guards between the two models. Very good video.

[@SkarmoryThePG]

You have an amazing ability to make me interested in subjects I didn't think I cared about.

[@JerryEricsson]

I am really amazed at all the different rifles that were fielded during our Civil War (or should I say the 1st Civil War?) after studying it briefly in school, I had always pictured the war a being fought with all muzzle loaders, much like the Revolutionary war. It is nice to know that the battle to have the best arms possible was still a thing back then. When I first joined the US Army back in 1970 I wondered at the wisdom of moving from a high speed 30 caliber round to the pipsqueek .22 caliber. Having hunted back then using dad's old #1 MkIII in full battle dress, then watching my cousin with his little Remington in .222 try to take the same size game, I could easily see that bullet placement was extremely important with the little .222 while not so much with the mighty .303! OH how I loved my .30 caliber but after training with and carrying the little .223, I came to trust her a bit more, and I was ever so thankful to have a light weight rifle to lug through the jungle and not that big old M-14 that the Jarheads were still toting back then. Still though, for a clean kill shot placement was indeed important, more so with the .223 then with the .308. Of course in war, you are not going for a clean kill but wounding an enemy soldier took out not one fighter but three, the wounded and the two to carry him off the battlefield. Not so much with the NVA though, who would leave their wounded till time to retreat, then make every effort to remove the ones still breathing, who could reveal information on the units.

[@crazysilly2914]

History books depict it being fought with flintlock muskets like the revolutionary war, But in reality it was fought with revolvers, breech loaders, lever-actions, Gatling guns, and Agar guns… There are even reports that early versions of traction engines were used as ‘tanks'

[@crazysilly2914]

Remember, only 49 years separated the Civil War and WW1...

[@timothyboles6457]

The connection to Colt, may explain the Colt style side hammer

[@Jesses001]

A very simple and effective design. I am surprised it is not popular these days as a cheap kids rifle or something along those likes, different caliber of course. Actually, now that I look at it, if I can purchase just a barrel from someone, I think I can make that in my shop, ha.

[@guillermocingolani3307]

Excelente

[@ultranitro437]

There is something about all metal and wood guns that makes them so cool and hardcore. Once you have a synthetic/plastic stock and parts it loses that something special.

[@benjamindavidovichwaals2899]

awesome

[@DaveTheSamurai]

I wish they made remakes of these.

[@ivanivan-yi2of]

Спасибо за отличное видео . Часто смотрю твой канал, узнаю новые моменты об устройстве исторического оружия. Это помогает мне в моей работе.Продолжай публиковать новое видео .Буду смотреть с удовольствием.

[@ronaldomello4463]

Imagino as máquinas que produzem essas obras de arte e a capacidade de seus criadores.

[@stevedoherty8901]

I have Great Grandpa's 1864 Joslyn carbine to sell . The firing spring was cracking the stock so I took it out for now .

[@astridvallati4762]

Rather than Werndl similarity, where the barrel like breech rotates co-axially with the barrel, the Joslin resembles the Russian Karle side wedge breech loading conversion of its Percussion Musket. Parallel development? What happened to the SA built Rifle versions? DocAV

[@joslenpettit5350]

I did not know there was a rifle similar to my name.

[@bushyfromoz8834]

Wouldn’t normally say this about vintage firearms, but man, that oil soaked wood... those things need a good clean

[@Sheerwater909]

The breech action seems so elegant and simple, the Trapdoor Springfield can only have been put into action for political reasons surely. A fact-filled presentation of these rifles.

[@codemiesterbeats]

I am surprised that they used such a grab bag of rifles/cartridges. I guess since it was only the cavalry it wasn't such a big deal to keep up with all the different cartridges... but still you would think they would want a standard.

[@drmaudio]

Interesting design. The simplicity is admirable, but seems it wouldn't be as fail-proof a breach as competing falling block designs.

[@pmcpreston]

Dice you know what to do...

[@DruidicRifleman]

Looks kinda like a 45 caliber cricket rifle...

[@truebornsonofliberty554]

Hi Ian- I know you link in the description the gun's auction particulars, but I was wondering if you'd also either note in the description or mention on video the auction estimates? Or is this something the house does not want you doing? Love your videos!!!!

[@ForgottenWeapons]

M85FSLUVR I prefer to just leave the estimates at RIA's site - I do generally go back and add the final sale price to the video descriptions after the auction is over though.

[@scabbynack]

I have an 1862 Joslyn carbine that has an issue with the firing pin. Once it's fixed I'll be shooting it!

[@SamEvansCOM]

Is the firing pin broken?

[@scabbynack]

Yes, it's stuck. Have it at a gun store now.

[@Totaldane]

Very interesting. Are there any other guns out there with this kind of breech?

[@DFX2KX]

T Ras I think there where a few others, some off-brand and European made firearms, mainly.

[@slowhand1198]

T Ras Check out the Snider.

[@404BYTE]

7:36 Are those grease?

[@vigunfighter]

It looked like there were three leaves for the rear sight. Do you know what distances they corresponded to?

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Peter Charles IIRC, they were 200, 300, and 600 yards.

[@DFX2KX]

Forgotten Weapons 600 yards strikes me as perhaps a it ambitious, what with the inconsistent ammo...

[@vigunfighter]

DFX2KX Remember, back then, and even into the World Wars, the longer range settings were for volley, not individual fire. Me, and a hundred of my closest friends firing at you and your lot. Surely a few rounds will strike home.

[@MrReded69]

DFX2KX Same kind of thinking that had 1000 meter/yard sights on 9mm sub-machine guns.

[@DFX2KX]

Peter Charles good point, didn't think about volleys. Though MrReded69 has a point, they put sights with volley distances on some pretty silly things...

[@phillipbampton911]

Sorry I'm so late to the party. Blame youtube. My having seen this 3 or 4 years ago has nothing to do with it. This isn't quite as simple as a Snider action, with no extractor, but simple nonetheless. With this available, why did the Allin trapdoor system win out?

[@bassgojoe]

What's the reason for the bright yellow coloration on the metal of the 1862's butt plate?

[@stevenbaker470]

It's brass, and brass is a yellow metal. Gold is too expensive and soft to use for a military rifle's butt plate! That would be the reason

[@blaw569]

These look like Wrendls

[@andrewborner2906]

What is with the hole bored through the top of the 1864 breech block?

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Andrew Borner Vent hole in case of a case head failure.

[@andrewborner2906]

Forgotten Weapons Thanks for being timely. Wow! I figured that's what it was for.

[@pommel47]

What cartridge did the version converted to centerfire shoot?

[@ForgottenWeapons]

J.L. Roberts I can't be 100% sure the chamber wasn't modified, but I would expect .56 Spencer centerfire - the same cartridge but with a centerfire primer. A bunch of Spencer rifles were also converted to the cartridge after the war.

[@pommel47]

Forgotten Weapons Thanks, I did not realize that any Spencers had been converted to centerfire after the war.

[@pablohill6688]

You mean the patents war

[@saboningm]

🇦🇷🇦🇷👍👍

[@rajeshguru6951]

Indian..Nice gon

[@rajeshguru6951]

Nice video