Editing Carbine (section)

===Carbine rifle===

As the [[rifled musket]] replaced the [[smoothbore]] firearms for infantry in the mid 19th century, carbine versions were also developed; this was often developed separately from the infantry rifles and, in many cases, did not even use the same ammunition, which made for supply difficulties.

A notable weapon developed towards the end of the [[American Civil War]] by the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] was the [[Spencer repeating rifle|Spencer carbine]], one of the first [[Breechloader|breechloading]], [[Repeating rifle|repeating]] weapons.<ref name="Pritchard2003">{{cite book|last=Pritchard|first=Russ A.|title=Civil War Weapons and Equipment|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YOmZolJJktAC&pg=PA49|date=1 August 2003|publisher=Globe Pequot Press|isbn=978-1-58574-493-0|pages=49–41}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> It had a spring-powered, removable [[Magazine (firearms)|tube magazine]] in the [[Stock (firearms)|buttstock]] which held seven rounds and could be reloaded by inserting spare tubes. It was intended to give the cavalry a replacement weapon which could be fired from horseback without the need for awkward reloading after each shot – although it saw service mostly with dismounted troopers, as was typical of cavalry weapons during that war.

In the late 19th century, it became common for a number of nations to make [[Bolt action|bolt-action]] rifles in both full-length and carbine versions. One of the most popular and recognizable carbines was the [[Lever action|lever-action]] [[Winchester rifle|Winchester carbines]], with several versions available firing [[revolver]] cartridges. This made it an ideal choice for [[cowboy]]s and explorers, as well as other inhabitants of the [[Western United States|American West]], who could carry a revolver and a carbine, both using the same ammunition.

The [[Lee–Enfield#Magazine Lee–Enfield|Lee–Enfield cavalry carbine]], a shortened version of the standard [[British Army]] infantry rifle was introduced in 1896, although it did not become the standard British cavalry weapon until 1903.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Skennerton |first=Ian |year=2007 |title=The Lee–Enfield |publisher=Arms & Militaria Press |location=Gold Coast QLD (Australia) |isbn=978-0-949749-82-6 |page=90}}</ref>