<P> In addition to the Springfields, over 100 types of muskets, rifles, rifle muskets, and rifled muskets--ranging up to . 79 caliber--were used during the American Civil War . The numerous American - made weapons were supplemented early in the conflict by a wide variety of imported models . The best, most popular, and most common of the foreign weapons was the British . 577 ‐ caliber Enfield rifle, model 1853, which was 54 inches long (with a 39 ‐ inch barrel), weighed 8.7 pounds (9.2 with the bayonet), could be fitted with a socket bayonet with an 18 - inch blade, and had a rear sight graduated to 800 yards . The Enfield design was produced in a variety of forms, both long and short barreled, by several British manufacturers and at least one American company . Of all the foreign designs, the Enfield most closely resembled the Springfield in characteristics and capabilities . The United States purchased over 436,000 Enfield ‐ pattern weapons during the war . Statistics on Confederate purchases are more difficult to ascertain, but a report dated February 1863 indicated that 70,980 long Enfields and 9,715 short Enfields had been delivered by that time, with another 23,000 awaiting delivery . While the quality of imported weapons varied, experts considered the Enfields and the Austrian Lorenz rifle muskets to be very good . However, some foreign governments and manufacturers took advantage of the huge initial demand for weapons by dumping their obsolete weapons on the American market . This practice was especially prevalent with some of the older smoothbore muskets and converted flintlocks . The greatest challenge, however, lay in maintaining these weapons and supplying ammunition and replacement parts for calibers ranging from . 44 to . 79 . The quality of the imported weapons eventually improved as the procedures, standards, and astuteness of the purchasers improved . For the most part, the European suppliers provided needed weapons, and the newer foreign weapons were highly regarded . </P> <P> Breechloaders and repeating rifles were available by 1861 and were initially purchased in limited quantities, often by individual soldiers . Generally, however, these types of rifles were not issued to troops in large numbers because of technical problems (poor breech seals, faulty ammunition), fear by the Ordnance Department that the troops would waste ammunition, and the cost of rifle production . The most famous of the breechloaders was the single - shot Sharps, produced in both carbine and rifle models . The model 1859 rifle was . 52 ‐ caliber, 471⁄8 inches long, and weighed 83⁄4 pounds, while the carbine was . 52 ‐ caliber, 391⁄8 inches long, and weighed 73⁄4 pounds . Both weapons used a linen cartridge and a pellet primer feed mechanism . Most Sharps carbines were issued to Federal cavalry units . </P> <P> The best known of the repeaters was probably the seven ‐ shot . 52 ‐ caliber Spencer, which came in both rifle and carbine models . The rifle was 47 ‐ inches long and weighed 10 pounds, while the carbine was 39 ‐ inches long and weighed 81⁄4 pounds . The Spencer was also the first weapon adopted by the US Army that fired a metallic rim ‐ fire, self ‐ contained cartridge . Soldiers loaded rounds through an opening in the butt of the stock, which fed into the chamber through a tubular magazine by the action of the trigger guard . The hammer still had to be cocked manually before each shot . The Henry rifle was, in some ways, even better than either the Sharps or the Spencer . Although never adopted by the US Army in any quantity, it was purchased privately by soldiers during the war . The Henry was a 16 ‐ shot, . 44 ‐ caliber rimfire cartridge repeater . It was 431⁄2 inches long and weighed 91⁄4 pounds . The tubular magazine located directly beneath the barrel had a 15 ‐ round capacity with an additional round in the chamber . Of the approximately 13,500 Henrys produced, probably 10,000 saw limited service . The government purchased only 1,731 . The Colt repeating rifle, model 1855 (or revolving carbine), also was available to Civil War soldiers in limited numbers . The weapon was produced in several lengths and calibers, the lengths varying from 32 to 421⁄2 inches, while its calibers were . 36, . 44, and . 56 . The . 36 and . 44 calibers were made to chamber six shots, while the . 56 ‐ caliber was made to chamber five shots . The Colt Firearms Company was also the primary supplier of revolvers (the standard sidearm for cavalry troops and officers), the . 44 ‐ caliber Army revolver and the . 36 ‐ caliber Navy revolver being the most popular (over 146,000 purchased). This was because they were simple, relatively sturdy, and reliable . </P> <P> TYPICAL CIVIL WAR SMALL ARMS </P>

In the last year of the war the union army outnumbered the confederate forces by what ratio