☕ Coffee Chronicles: The Coffee Grinder Gun That Wasn’t - Busting Civil War Myths

Another Civil War coffee story

All photos used in this post are from Guns.com [1]

In the chaos of the Civil War, innovation often came from unexpected places. Soldiers adapted weapons, tools, and supplies to make life on the battlefield a little more bearable. But not all ideas were destined for success—and one such experiment, the so-called "coffee grinder" Sharps carbine, has kept history buffs guessing for years.

The story begins in Massachusetts, where Lt. Col. Walter King—on loan from the 4th Missouri Cavalry (a Union regiment) to the Springfield Armory (1864-65)—decided to put a hand-cranked mill inside the stock of a standard .52 caliber Sharps Carbine. The concept was simple: cavalry troopers could grind grain or oats for their horses while on the move. [1] (See photos below.)

But as time passed, the legend shifted gears. Instead of grinding feed, people began insisting these carbines were designed to grind coffee beans—a far more vital commodity for soldiers enduring long marches and sleepless nights.

Historians, however, put the myth to the test. Experts from the National Park Service tried using one of the rare surviving rifles to grind coffee beans—only to find that the mechanism wasn’t suited for the task at all. The "coffee grinder" Sharps, it turns out, was never actually meant for coffee. [2]

And just how many of these modified carbines were made? Likely fewer than 100, with only about 12 known to exist today. In fact, they’ve become such a sought-after collector’s item that Springfield Armory itself warns that fakes are common:

"There are probably more weapons with 'coffee grinder' adaptations on the market today than were ever originally produced." [1]

So, while it’s fun to imagine soldiers cranking out fresh coffee before heading into battle, the truth is much more practical—but no less fascinating. The coffee grinder gun that wasn’t remains a quirky footnote in Civil War weaponry, proving how legends can evolve long after the war itself has ended.

There are millions of stories from the Irrepressible Conflict. This was NOT one of them.

Mac

If you enjoyed this topic, dive into more posts on my 'Coffee Chronicles' page to explore the quirky and essential role coffee played in the War Between the States.

Works Cited

[1] Eger, Chris "The 'coffee grinder' Sharps Carbine with a mill right in the stock". Guns.com - February 5, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2025.

[2] Sam S. "POTD: The Sharps “Coffee Grinder” Carbine – A Civil War Curiosity".  AllOutDoor website - December 3, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2025.