Original U.S. Civil War Era Cased Quarter Plate Tintype Photograph showing Three Railroad Workers Antique Wheellock Firearms over the chamber and 38

over the chamber and 38 CAL (faint) on the brass carrier block

and we cannot tell if the barrel was originally 4 3/4"

Also the original cleaning rod was replaced long ago with what looks to be a GEW 98 cleaning rod variant

complete with medals and a summarized translation

We can see that there definitely used to be a mei (signature) on the correct area of the blade

Original U.S. Civil War Era Cased Quarter Plate Tintype Photograph showing Three Railroad Workers Antique Wheellock Firearms over the chamber and 38Original Item: Only One Available. Everything about this image, including its presentation, makes it a splendid memento of the Civil War Era. This cased "Quarter Plate" (3. 25 x 4. 25 inch) tin type portrait shows three workmen in white uniforms with "Railroad" style caps. The uniforms they wear are quite soiled, suggesting they might be responsible for putting coal in the burner that fires the boiler. It's also possible that they are naval stokers.