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I Have This Old Gun: Terry Carbine

NRApubs
Published on March 22, 2023
Category: General
Duration: 5:54

This video explores the historical Callister and Terry carbine, an early British bolt-action breach-loader developed in the mid-19th century. It highlights its innovative greased felt wad system for sealing the breach and clearing fouling, its use during the American Civil War by figures like Jeb Stuart, and its limitations with the advent of metallic cartridges. The carbine is presented as a significant, albeit ultimately superseded, development in firearm technology.

Tags

Callister and Terry Carbine
Terry Carbine
William Terry
British Breach Loader
Mid-19th Century Rifle
Bolt Action Rifle
Jeb Stuart
American Civil War
Confederate Carbine
Greased Felt Wad
Caseless Ammunition
Birmingham England
Colonial Armory
New Zealand
Australia

Quick Summary

The Callister and Terry carbine was an early British bolt-action breach-loader from the mid-19th century. Its innovative greased felt wad system helped seal the breach and clear fouling, crucial for black powder firearms. Despite its ingenuity, its design limitations made it unsuitable for metallic cartridges, though it did see use in the American Civil War.

Chapters

  1. 00:03Early Breach Loaders in Britain
  2. 00:07The Callister and Terry Carbine
  3. 00:17Bolt Action Rifles: Not a Modern Invention
  4. 00:36The Terry Carbine: William Terry's Brainchild
  5. 00:50Terry Carbine Bolt Mechanism
  6. 01:12Innovative Cartridge and Greased Wad
  7. 01:32Loading the Terry Carbine
  8. 01:44Function of the Greased Wad
  9. 02:14Fouling and Lubrication in Black Powder Era
  10. 02:34Callister and Terry: Early Breach Loading Success
  11. 02:56Comparison to Later Bolt Actions
  12. 03:14Callister and Terry Carbine Design
  13. 03:18British Manufacturing and Colonial Use
  14. 03:34Acceptance in New Zealand and Australia
  15. 03:36Performance of the Terry Carbine
  16. 03:40Limitations of the Terry Carbine Design
  17. 03:51Loading Port and Metallic Cartridges
  18. 04:01Advent of Metallic Cartridges
  19. 04:04Terry Carbine's Unsuitability for Metallic Cartridges
  20. 04:15Spent Case Extraction Issues
  21. 04:22Caseless Ammunition Analogy
  22. 04:30Terry Carbines in the American Civil War
  23. 04:34Jeb Stuart's Terry Carbine
  24. 04:42Jefferson Davis's Terry Carbine
  25. 04:52Blockade Runners and Mounted Troops
  26. 05:01Confederate Nickname: 'The Durable Gun'
  27. 05:04Identifying Confederate vs. British Terrys
  28. 05:10British Markings Indicate Non-Confederate Issue
  29. 05:13British Army Issue
  30. 05:19Confederate Terrys: Civilian Made
  31. 05:26Distribution Through Blockade
  32. 05:37Lack of Concerted Purchase Records

Frequently Asked Questions

What made the Callister and Terry carbine's ammunition system unique?

The Callister and Terry carbine used a special cartridge with a greased felt wad at the base. This wad served a dual purpose: it helped seal the breach effectively when fired and, with subsequent shots, it aided in clearing fouling from the bore and lubricating it, which was crucial for reliable operation in black powder firearms.

Was the bolt action a modern invention when the Terry carbine was developed?

No, the bolt action rifle is not a modern invention. The Callister and Terry carbine, developed in the mid-19th century, featured a bolt action mechanism with locking lugs, predating later well-known bolt action designs by over a decade and demonstrating the concept's early development.

Why was the Terry carbine ultimately unsuited for metallic cartridges?

The Terry carbine's design, featuring a side-swinging bolt and a small loading port, did not provide direct access to the breach for loading metallic cartridges. Furthermore, its mechanism made it difficult to extract spent cases, essentially rendering it incompatible with the emerging self-contained metallic ammunition technology.

Did the Terry carbine see service in the American Civil War?

Yes, the Terry carbine was present during the American Civil War. Several were imported and used by Confederate forces. Notable figures like Jeb Stuart and Jefferson Davis were known to possess Terry carbines, and they were sometimes nicknamed 'the durable gun' by Confederates.

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