.58- AND .50-CALIBER RIFLES & CARBINES OF THE SPRINGFIELD ARMOR
by Richard A. Hosmer. Softbound, 275 pages, 5-1/2" x 8-1/2". In the post-Civil War years, the U.S. Army found it imperative to change from muzzleloading percussion rifled muskets firing paper cartridges to breech loading rifles firing self-contained metallic cartridges. This book provides a detailed description of each rifle and carbine, including markings, finishes, and dimensions of all pertinent parts. Each firearm is summarized in a separate table to make identification and comparison easier. Additional tables list all markings, finishes, bayonets and accoutrements that were issued. The book is heavily illustrated with photos of the firearms and their accoutrements with emphasis on details. The social and military considerations that led to the development and adoption of these arms are discussed. The pertinent individuals re-identified and the parts they played are woven in the context of the times.
