Collector's Club Meeting March

Brett showed a reproduction Wisch-brand .54 cal Gallagher Model 1860 Carbine made by Erma Werke in West Germany (pre-1989):

• The Gallagher Carbine was used by both Union and Confederate Cavalry forces in The American Civil War (1860-1865).
• Original production numbered almost 18,000 units with the Erma Werke reproductions believed to number between 1-2,000.
• Field reports from cavalry units showed mixed reception with some units liking their Gallagher carbines and other units despising them due to the awkwardness of the action while on horseback.

Rhys showed an Israeli K98k made by FN of Belgium in the early 1950s:

• FN were contracted to make K98k-style rifles for Israel in 7.92mm which were later re-barrelled to 7.62mm by the Israelis after adopting the later cartridge as their standard.
• Both the receivers and stocks were marked with a large “7.62” on the converted rifles.
• Also a part of this grouping was an original Israeli marked sling and domestically produced Mk.1A bayonet manufactured in 1949.

Roger showed an English Deer Rifle in .54 caliber percussion from the 1840-1850s period:

• The rifle has a patch storage compartment built into the stock.
• It has a two-groove rifling system which used a ball with a wing on the side.
• The wing system was an early attempt at guaranteeing that a rifling twist was applied to the projectile so that it would be effective at moderate distance (100y) on deer-sized game.
• The lock bears the name of “Smith, Elder and Co” and the barrel is marked “Hollis and Sheath” with a Birmingham Proof Mark