Interesting Letter: English Carbines vs. Robinson Sharps

[Mississippian]

Just a little tidbit to add to the ANV theme today.

Will MacDonald


From the CSR of Lt. J.E. Cooke, Ordnance Officer, Cavalry ANV.

Aug. 17th 1863

Colonel Baldwin ,

The new English muzzle loading Carbines lately issued to this Division gives great satisfaction. It is an excellent weapon at 300 yards and effective at 400 or 500 yards. The men and officers both speak of them in high terms. The only fault found is that the sight is too coarse, and would be much more effective being made finer.
The Robinson Carbine manufactured in Richmond continues to work badly, and at times bursts its stock from defective junction of the parts. I am directed by Gen. Stuart to return them to the Ordnance Dept. in Richmond

Very Respy,

J.E. Cooke
Lt. & O.O.

[Curt Schmidt]

Hallo!

Those Robinsons made by Samuel Robinson were better than those made after 1863 by the Confederates.

The defective junction of the parts was the way the forestock was carved out. Sharps have a slightly different mortising, and the area is guarded by a small plate. What happened was that as long as the Sharps-type action was loaded and fired, there was no problem. But if the trooper dropped the breech on a loaded round, to check if it was loaded- it allowed powder to dribble down on the top of the breech block and into the open mortising of the under side of the forestock.
If done enough times, sufficient loose powder built up in that space so that flash along the breech face not caught by the gas seal ignited the powder making the forestock a small pipe bomb in the shooter's face.

Curt