Ambrose Everett Burnside made his mark in history as a famous battlefield commander during the American Civil War. Today, collectors of antique firearms better remember him for the handy cavalry carbine that he invented and had manufactured, a carbine that played a large part in arming Federal cavalrymen during that war. Getting the first 300 of those carbines fabricated drove Burnside into bankruptcy in 1857, and he then changed careers. The demand for good arms with the coming of the war quickly changed penury to profit: nearly 59,000 of the carbines of his design were ultimately produced, garnering over $2 million dollars for the two companies which made them. This book is the story of the design and production of the five different variations of the Burnside carbine, and the cartridges, tools and accouterments furnished with them. "Noted arms historian Ed Hull has produced his latest 'Collector's Guide to Firearms, ' and it is a most compelling and complete study of Civil War era Burnside Carbines and Rifles. This author has studied these unique breechloading firearms for many decades now, and this 173-page book covers all prototypes and production models, related Burnside ammunition and associated accoutrements. Students and collectors of Civil War weaponry will appreciate how complete and reliable this work is." Roy Marcot, author of "Spencer repeating Firearms" "Once again, longtime firearms student and writer Edward Hull has written a fine book that expands upon the one he originally wrote in 1986 on the same subject...It would make for a wonderful addition to the library of the arms collector...." Frank Graves, ARMS HERITAGE MAGAZINE

In his day, Gen. Benjamin S. Roberts was better known as a U.S. Army combat commander than as a firearms inventor. Yet as an inventor he saw commercial success with his idea for converting muzzle-loading muskets into efficient breechloaders. This is the story of his efforts, beginning in 1859, to develop the ultimate breechloader - efforts that would lead to his successful design in 1866. He also achieved success with his patented design for cartridges. This book provides collectors and arms historians with extensive new information on the production and international use of the Roberts breechloader and its cartridges. "I highly recommend Roberts Breechloading Firearms as a significant work on a little-known weapons system of the Civil War and post-war years. This book is well researched, well written and well illustrated, and can be appreciated by those who enjoy reading about the history and development of American weaponry...The author is a recognized authority on the development of American firearms during the mid-19th Century, having researched and written several important books and numerous articles." Roy Marcot, Arms Historian and author of Spencer Repeating Firearms and Remington: America's Oldest Gunmaker "This new monograph from Ed Hull is a masterful description....Ed Hull is known for his painstaking and extensive research in obscure and hard to find sources to piece together the story of various small arms systems that have passed into history. He has certainly accomplished it again with Robert's Breechloading Firearms." Joe Poyer, author of The American Krag Rifle and Carbine and The .45-70 Springfield "Prominent and provably diligent researcher Edward Hull has once again written a good book...(on) breechloading cartridge arms. Author Hull has been researching this topic for over 10 years and...his research is first rate and his documentation rock solid. This book is very well footnoted and will probably be considered the final word on Benjamin Roberts and his inventions. It would make for a wonderful addition to the library of the arms collector...." Frank Graves, Arms Heritage magazine "Drawing on a variety of historical sources, Hull weaves a compelling history of the process and fully documents the developmental sequencing of General Roberts' design...The end result has been the creation of a truly excellent monograph about the inventor, his work and the structural brilliance of his design. "Through clearly written technical descriptions of the various designs...and most especially by the incorporation of illusgrations showing their salient features, collectors are well served b Hull's work. As such it must be recommended to anyone interested in the American firearms industry of the technical development of arms in general." Herb Houze, Man-At-Arms magazine

"Featuring guns photographed by Dennis Adler from the Mike Clark/Collector's Firearms Collection; the Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection; and the Dennis LeVett Collection, with additional photography provided by the Rock Island Auction Company Archives."

During the American Civil War, the mounted soldiers fighting on both sides of the conflict carried a wide array of weapons, from sabers and lances to carbines, revolvers, and other firearms. Though some sections of the cavalry placed their trust in the sabre, the advent of viable breechloading carbines -- especially repeaters such as the Spencer -- was to transform warfare within little more than a decade of General Lee's final surrender at Appomattox. However, output struggled to keep up with unprecedented demands on manufacturing technology and distribution in areas where communication was difficult and in states whose primary aim was to equip their own men rather than contribute to the arming of Federal or Confederate regiments. In addition, the almost unparalleled losses of men and equipment ensured that almost any firearm, effectual or not, was pressed into service. Consequently, the sheer variety of weaponry carried reflected the mounted soldiers' various roles in different theatres of operation, but also the availability -- or otherwise -- of weapons, notably on the Confederate side. Fully illustrated, this study assesses the effectiveness of the many different weapons arming the Civil War cavalryman and analyses the strengths and weaknesses of the decisions made after 1865 concerning the armament of the US cavalry.

With graphic prints, photographs, a timeline, and a glossary, this engaging and insightful technography sheds light on one of the most important inventions in the history of the human race.