American Civil War Relics Catalog

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Antique Cartridges - Cartridges - Civil War Cartridges

.54 Burnside Carbine Cartridge with Foster's Patented "Swell"

Item #: M129

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M129 .54 Burnside Carbine Cartridge with Foster's Patented "Swell"

Description: Excellent example of a Burnside cartridge used in the 2nd through 5th Model Burnside carbines. This distinctive cartridge design was patented by George P. Foster on April 10, 1860, under United States Patent No. 27,791. A defining feature of the Burnside cartridge is the characteristic swell near the case mouth, which incorporated Foster’s patented internal grease chamber intended to hold lubricant. This innovation helped reduce barrel fouling while also improving the gas seal at the breech, contributing to the Burnside carbine’s reputation for reliability during the American Civil War.

This example shows a few small dents around the swell and case wall, which is typical for these cartridges. The brass still retains a pleasing bright finish with scattered dark oxidation patches consistent with age and service handling.

A solid representative of the iconic Burnside design, this cartridge would make an excellent filler for a carbine cartridge box or a worthy addition to any Civil War or early metallic cartridge collection. An attractive and historically significant example of one of the important transitional metallic cartridge designs developed during the formative years of American breechloading arms technology.

Headstamp: None

Measures: OAL 2.376”

Reference: "Round Ball to Rimfire” Thomas Vol. 2, Pg. 22, No. 368-369

Price: $85.00 UPS Shipping Required

Shipping Weight: 0.5 lb

Your Price$85.00 USD

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Americancivilwarrelics.com strongly recommends that these artifacts be enjoyed and appreciated for their historical significance and not ever fired. By ordering you are acknowledging these facts, warnings and assume full responsibility for your personal actions with regard to them.

We DO NOT sell modern guns, all our inventory will be Pre-1898 and are classified by the ATF as antiques and require no government paperwork to own.

All ammunition is sold as "Collectable/Display Ammunition" and is NOT meant to be fired. By ordering you are acknowledging these facts, warnings and assume full responsibility for your personal actions with regard to them.

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Ian Workman

American Civil War Relics & Military Antiques