In the smoky din of the American Civil War, when bullets flew and cavalry clashed in thunderous gallops across open fields and narrow ridgelines, it wasn’t just generals and flags that decided the outcome of a fight—it was firepower. Amidst the flood of breech-loading carbines issued to the Union cavalry, two especially curious creatures of...
Category: Rifle/Long Guns
The Krummlauf STG-44: Nazi Germany’s Wildly Ingenious Curved-Barrel Rifle Attachment
Some inventions in firearms history come across like something from pulp science fiction—concepts so peculiar and ambitious they seem impossible until you see them in metal. The Krummlauf attachment for the Sturmgewehr 44 (STG-44) is exactly that kind of marvel. Born in the crucible of late-war desperation and fueled by a mix of practical need...
Forging Firepower: The Rise of Breech-Loading Carbines in the American Civil War
When the American Civil War erupted in 1861, the U.S. Army’s standard-issue firearm remained the ponderous muzzle-loading rifled musket. But for the Union cavalry—the fast-moving eyes, ears, and strike force of the army—a different kind of weapon was needed. One that could be reloaded quickly, even from the saddle. One that could keep pace with...
The Joslyn Carbine: America’s First Successful Breechloader for Brass Cartridges
Among the many innovations in small arms that emerged during the American Civil War, the Joslyn Carbine stands out as a pioneering step toward the modern metallic cartridge firearm. A product of American ingenuity and industrial capability, the Joslyn was one of the first successful breechloading carbines designed to fire a metallic cartridge, placing it...