ANTIQUE INDIAN TACKED CIVIL WAR GALLAGER 56-62R.F. SADDLERING CARBINE

This is a rare Indian captured / Indian used U.S. Civil War period single shot, tilt barrel Gallager Saddle Ring Carbine serial #21XXX. There were about 17,728 manufactured in .50 caliber percussion by Richardson & Overman, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This is the rarer version in .56-62 Spencer rimfire cartridge, of which only 5,000 were manufactured. As a rimfire, the piece has a firing pin device instead of a percussion cap, a rimfire pin and a small cartridge extractor on the face of the breech. 38 3/4" overall with a 22 1/4" barrel. The barrel bore measurement is 9/16". Originally these were blued, and case hardened. This piece, as is typical for Indian used firearms, is in poor condition, which also helps to authenticate them. You can use your imagination as to how this long arm was obtained by an American Indian. Perhaps it was picked up by a Native American on a battlefield, or by ambushing a soldier. Many of these long arms were sold as surplus after the Civil War.
The bore is dirty and has some pitting; but has much of the original twist groves intact.