Rare Confederate Morse Carbine Up for Auction-- Part 1

From the March 11, 2014, Indianapolis (Ind) Star "Rare Civil War gun up for auction at Indy" by Brian Eason.

The Morse carbine will be one of six Civil War guns offered by Wickliff Auctioneers of Carmel, Indiana. It is very rare and expected to fetch $30,000.

The Morse carbine was a .50 caliber, breech-loading gun made in Greenville, South Carolina, for state militia and was one of the most technologically advanced weapons of the Confederacy.

It is believed that just about 1000 were made and only a small number remain.

One big breakthrough was that the gun's hammer, used to cock the weapon, also served as a catch to keep the trapdoor closed over the ammunition chamber. Otherwise, if tilted up at an angle of 45 degrees or more, the shell would fall out.

Got $30,000?   --Old Secesh