These terms are useful for understanding the descriptions in this guide.
Breechloading: A firearm (usually single shot) made to load using a cartridge inserted into the back end of the barrel (breech).
Carbine: A long-arm with a barrel shorter than 24 inches, typically meant for cavalry use.
Musket: A military long-arm, typically smoothbore and muzzleloading, of large caliber (.58 and above) with a barrel usually at least 35” in length.
Muzzleloading: A firearm that loads from the muzzle (front of the barrel) using loose powder and bullet and is externally primed (fired).
Patent Cartridge: An externally primed but otherwise self-contained (ie, has bullet, powder and cartridge case all in one package) cartridge patented for use in a specific, breechloading firearm. Patent cartridges are usually limited to the era of intense firearms experimentation from 1840 to 1865.
Trade Gun: Economy-priced guns built to a generic (and usually somewhat older) pattern from commonly available parts, built in large numbers to be sold through mail order catalogs and local hardware stores, ie “the trade”.