The Civil War Smith Carbine,Invented in 1857 by Dr. Gilbert Smith of New York, the Smith Carbine was

The Civil War Smith Carbine,Invented in 1857 by Dr. Gilbert Smith of New York, the Smith Carbine was a lesser known Civil War breechloading firearm typically used by Union cavalry forces.  A single shot breechloader, it was unique in its ammunition, a self contained .50 caliber cartridge which used a rubber casing.  To load the Smith Carbine, the user pushed a button directly in front of the trigger, which caused the carbine to break open like a double barrel shotgun.  The user then inserted the cartridge and closed the carbine.  Smith cartridges lacked a primer, so the user placed a percussion cap on the carbine’s nipple for ignition.  A small hole on the back of the cartridge accommodated the spark which ignited the gunpowder.  In the mid 19th century one of the main problems with breechloading firearms was the escape of gas through the rear of the breech.  Smith’s solution to this problem was the use of a rubber cartridge rather than a traditional combustible paper cartridge. When fired, the rubber casing would heat and expand into the chamber, sealing off the breech. This system came with a downside, after firing the empty casings were often difficult to remove.  During the Civil War shortages of rubber also resulted in a shortage of Smith ammo.  Army Ordnance tried to compensate by substituting combustible paper cartridges.  However the paper cartridges caused fowling of the chamber and breech, making the carbine unfire-able after a dozen or more shots.Despite the flaws of the Smith Carbine, it was a great advantage of most other firearms of the day which were typically muzzleloading rifle muskets.  Because of its short length (39.5 inches), light weight (7.5lbs), compact size, and breechloading capabilities it was an ideal carbine for cavalry troops.  30,062 were produced, almost all were issued to Union cavalry units.  After the Civil War most were sold as military surplus.  Today they are popular collectors items.  Some companies even make modern reproductions, although buyers are responsible for producing their own ammunition. -- source link

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