1858 New Army Carbine

The Remington Revolving Carbine was a carbine variant of the famous Remington New Model Army percussion revolver. While the era of the metallic cartridge was already dawning, Remington sought to provide a high-quality, repeating long gun for those still reliant on percussion components. Production was very limited, lasting only until 1879 with approximately 800 units manufactured. It was designed primarily to bridge the gap between a sidearm and a full-sized rifle, offering the rapid-fire capability of a revolver with the added stability and accuracy of a shoulder stock and a longer barrel.

This firearm was a single-action, percussion-cap weapon chambered in .44 caliber. It featured a six-shot cylinder and a octagonal barrel of 18” to 30” in lenght, which provided a significant increase in muzzle velocity and effective range compared to its handgun counterpart. 

The carbine shared the robust "solid frame" design that made Remington 1858 revolver famous, featuring a top strap over the cylinder that improved overall structural integrity. Because of its late introduction following the American Civil War, it saw virtually no official military service, as most standing armies were rapidly transitioning to breech-loading metallic cartridge rifles like the Springfield or Sharps.

In civil contexts, however, the carbine found a loyal following among frontiersmen, hunters, and scouts who appreciated its light weight and the ability to fire six shots in quick succession without reloading. Its primary pro was its superior balance and the reliability of the Remington closed-frame design, which was less prone to jamming than open-top competitors. 

Conversely, its main con was the inherent danger of "chain fire" in a long gun; if multiple chambers ignited simultaneously, the user’s support arm, positioned forward of the cylinder, was at risk of severe injury from flying lead and hot gases. Despite this risk, its craftsmanship made it a prized possession in the transition years of the American West.