Illustreret Tidende 1859 - Calisher & Terry karabin

. The Calisher and Terry Carbine was an early

bolt-action Bolt-action is a type of manual firearm action that is operated by ''directly'' manipulating the bolt via a bolt handle, which is most commonly placed on the right-hand side of the weapon (as most users are right-handed). Most bolt-actio ...

breech-loading 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 breec ...

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 lighte ...

. It used a waterproof paper cartridge ignited with a

percussion cap The percussion cap or percussion primer, introduced in the early 1820s, is a type of single-use percussion ignition device for muzzle loader firearm locks enabling them to fire reliably in any weather condition. This crucial invention gave rise ...

. Approved by the British War Office for use by cavalry, it was first issued to the

18th Hussars The 18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, first formed in 1759. It saw service for two centuries, including the First World War before being amalgamated with the 13th Hussars to form the 13th/18th Royal H ...

, but is best known from its use by the Colonial governments in Australia and New Zealand - particularly by the NZ Colonial Defence Force (NZ Forest Rangers) from July 1863 - and its occasional use in the American Civil War.

Design and History

William Terry patented the design on April 12, 1855. The design used a bolt and a unique cartridge which held the bullet encapsulated within a nitrated paper wrapper holding the appropriate powder charge, with a greased felt wad at the base to help seal the breech. The cartridges were chambered in .54-calibre (13-mm) Minie. The following year Terry formed a partnership with Bertram Calisher, and they were successful in promoting both private sales and having it adopted by the British War Department. In addition to being issued to the

, the system in rifle and carbine form enjoyed a brisk civilian sale and was popular with colonial military and constabulary units, most notably those of

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island coun ...

. A number were used during the American Civil War, particularly by the Confederates, but they were never a standard issue for any unit. Metal cartridges became increasingly popular from the 1860s onward, and many competing arms such as the Sharps were converted to these, but the basic design of the Terry meant that this was not feasible, and the company closed down in 1870."Battle of the breechloaders: Calisher & Terry Gwyn & Campbell: two of the Civil War's most unusual carbines go head-to-head" Garry James, Guns & Ammo, Mar 22, 2013

Notable users

* Jeb Stuart,

Confederate States Army The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...

general *

Jefferson Davis Jefferson F. Davis (June 3, 1808December 6, 1889) was an American politician who served as the president of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865. He represented Mississippi in the United States Senate and the House of Representatives as ...

, President of the Confederate States of America *

Gustavus von Tempsky Gustavus Ferdinand von Tempsky (15 February 1828 – 7 September 1868) was a Prussian adventurer, artist, newspaper correspondent and soldier in New Zealand, Australia, California, Mexico and the Mosquito Coast of Central America. He was also a ...

's Forest Rangers"Colonial Defence Force, Special Forces, and the Armed Constabulary"
1966, Te Ara

References

{{reflist Carbines Single-shot bolt-action rifles