This U.S. Model 1855 Pistol-Carbine with attachable buttstock was manufactured in 1855 by Springfield Armory. The Springfield Armory manufactured 4,021 of these unique pistol-carbines c. 1855-1857. This pistol-carbine features an attachable buttstock, rifled .58 caliber barrel with two-leaf folding rear sight graduated to 400 yards, steel, swivel-type ramrod with concave tip for Minie bullet, Maynard tape primer, clean-out screw on the bolster, sling ring on the butt cap and sling swivels on the upper barrel band and buttstock. The barrel, lock, ramrod and swivels are "National Armory Bright". The oil-finished, American walnut, attachable stock and pistol stock have a brass, forend tip, barrel band, trigger guard, butt cap, brass stock yoke and buttplate. The pistol has a steel back strap slotted to accept the attachable buttstock. The lock plate is dated "1856" behind the hammer and roll-stamped "U.S./SPRINGFIELD" in two lines in front of the primer door. The primer door is roll-stamped with the Springfield Armory eagle and shield motif. The barrel tang is dated "1855" ahead of the rear sight and the left side of the barrel is stamped with "V/P/eagle head" proof and inspection marks. The assembly or batch number "16" is stamped on the butt cap, and the assembly number "12" is stamped on the underside of the stock yoke (Model 1855 Pistol-Carbine stocks and pistols are stamped with assembly numbers from 1-20; the numbers rarely match). The heel of the buttplate is marked "US". A unique design, the Model 1855 pistol-carbine was intended as a replacement for the Model 1847 musketoon and Hall carbine and was issued in conjunction with a revolver. Model 1855 pistol-carbines saw hard service on the frontier and many remained in service during the first year of the Civil War. The Model 1855 pistol-carbine, the Model 1817 flintlock pistol and the Model 1911 semi-automatic pistol were the only handguns manufactured by the Springfield Armory.