{{infobox weapon , name = Tarpley Carbine , image = Tarpley breech-loading carbine.jpg , image_size = 300 , caption = Tarpley carbine displayed at the

National Museum of American History The National Museum of American History: Kenneth E. Behring Center collects, preserves, and displays the heritage of the United States in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific, and military history. Among the items on display is t ...

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Confederate States The Confederate States of America (CSA), commonly referred to as the Confederate States or the Confederacy was an unrecognized breakaway republic in the Southern United States that existed from February 8, 1861, to May 9, 1865. The Confeder ...

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Carbine A carbine ( or ) is a long gun that has a barrel shortened from its original length. Most modern carbines are rifles that are compact versions of a longer rifle or are rifles chambered for less powerful cartridges. The smaller size and lighter ...

, is_ranged = yes , is_bladed = , is_explosive = , is_artillery = , is_vehicle = , is_missile = , is_UK = , service = , used_by =

, wars =

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

, designer = Jere H. Tarpley , design_date = 1863 , manufacturer =

Confederate Arms Factory Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...

, Greensboro, NC
J. F. Garrett & Company , unit_cost = , production_date = 1863-1864 , number = c. 400 , variants = , spec_label = , weight = , length = , part_length = , width = , height = , diameter = , crew = , cartridge = .52 bullet , cartridge_weight = , caliber = {{convert, 0.52, in, abbr=on , barrels = , action = Side-hinged breechblock , rate = , velocity = , range = , max_range = , feed = , sights = , breech = , recoil = , carriage = , elevation = , traverse = , blade_type = , hilt_type = , sheath_type = , head_type = , haft_type = , filling = , filling_weight = , detonation = , yield = , armour = , primary_armament = , secondary_armament = , engine = , engine_power = , pw_ratio = , transmission = , payload_capacity = , suspension = , clearance = , fuel_capacity = , vehicle_range = , speed = , guidance = , steering = , wingspan = , propellant = , ceiling = , altitude = , depth = , boost = , accuracy = , launch_platform = , transport = The Tarpley Carbine was a

Confederate Confederacy or confederate may refer to: States or communities * Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities * Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...

weapon produced and used during the

; however, it was not produced in great numbers. The Tarpley Carbine was a

breechloader A breechloader is a firearm in which the user loads the ammunition (cartridge or shell) via the rear (breech) end of its barrel, as opposed to a muzzleloader, which loads ammunition via the front ( muzzle). Modern firearms are generally breech ...

, and was comparable in this sense to the

Sharps Rifle Sharps rifles are a series of large-bore, single-shot, falling-block, breech-loading rifles, beginning with a design by Christian Sharps in 1848 and ceasing production in 1881. They were renowned for long-range accuracy. By 1874 the rifle wa ...

and Carbine more widely used by the Union. O
Civil War Artillery
there are some notes about the Carbine's manufacture:

"The breech-loading carbine was invented and patented in Greensboro, N.C. by Jere H. Tarpley. He received a C.S.A. patent on February 14, 1863, and his name appears on the barrel tang. He joined J. &F. Garrett & Co. to make carbines for the state of North Carolina. The carbines were made for about one year with their production amounting to only a few hundred. The carbine had a unique design which enabled this arm to be made with a file. The frame was unfinished brass with a copper color. The barrel was blued and the hammer was case hardened. The major flaw in the carbine was that it does not have a gas seal to prevent the escape of highly erosive gases between the breech-block and the barrel when fired. With each firing, the gap between the breech-block and the barrel would be larger. The carbine used paper ammunition. Although the carbine was made mainly for the state, it was also sold commercially. It is the only Confederate firearm sold to the public. The Tarpley was attractive in appearance, but it was not very serviceable. Clap, Gates & Co. was ten miles from the Garrett operation in Greensboro. The hammer and other parts could have been supplied by Clapp, Gates & Co." Dates of production, 1863-1864, total production, 'few hundred'." :''Anthony and Hills Pictorial History Confederate Longarms and Pistols''

External links

Antiques Site TarpleyBrief Description of Tarpley and PictureTarpley's ProductionOpened Breech of Tarpley carbine
American Civil War rifles Weapons of the Confederate States of America Hinged breechblock rifles