I recently found a nice merrill carbine - Using the serial number versus the delivery dates I can guess that it was delivered in July of 1863. Question is - Does anybody have any information about who they could have been issued to during that time period? I would assume that they could have gone to a cav unit as replacements for their first arms issue at the start of the war - or given to a newly formed unit.

Also, Merrill made a breachloading conversion of rifled 1842's in 69 caliber. Has anybody seen the mold or bullet that would have been used in this weapon? I would think it would just look like the standard merrill bullet on steroids.

Any thoughts?