Approximately 10,500 of these "side lever" Hall-North Model 1843 carbines were manufactured by Simeon North of Middletown, Connecticut, in 1844-1853. The 1st and 2nd U.S. Dragoons were among the units issued these carbines during the Mexican-American War, and more than half are believed to have been rifled for use in the Civil War, making original smoothbore examples like this in high condition very scarce. It has a blade front sight, dovetailed notch rear sight at the front of the frame, "U.S./S. NORTH/MIDLtn/CONN./1847" marked breechblock, "JH" (Joseph Hannis) inspection initials marked on the right of the breech, a script "GWH" (George W. Hamlin) cartouche marked on the left stock flat, "WAT" (William A. Thornton) cartouche on the right flat, "H" inspection marks on various components, and small holes and an imprint from a now absent plaque on the right side of the butt. Provenance: The Mitch Lukisch Collection; The David Aroh Collection; Property of a Gentleman