One of the first US Purchased "Repeaters" was the Colt Model 1839 Carbine in .525 Cal. smoothbore. The US bought 360 of them and they had the WAT inspectors mark on the left side of the stock. Current value runs from $22,500 to $80,000 depending on condition. Colt's next venture was the Model 1855 rifle produced in .44 Cal. (6 shot) .56 cal (5 shot) and .64 cal. (extremely rare) and the 1855 Carbine produced in .36 Cal, .44 Cal and .56 Cal.
Another early repeater in the US inventory was the Henry Lever Action .44 rimfire which saw limited use in Civil War service.
Another early Repeating Rifle in the US inventory was the Ellis-Jennings repeating flintlock rifle which was made in a 4 shot version and a 10 shot version. The loads were superimposed one on top of the other in the barrel and the flint mechanism which was self priming would slide backwards against each successive touch hole to fire. 520 of these rarities were delivered to the State of New York in 1829 after Federal inspection.
Outside of the length of the stock, lock and barrel it is allmost identical to the 1817 "Common" Rifle, using many parts from that model. It was .54 caliber.
There were many other "Repeaters" used during the Civil War. In addition to the Spencer there was the Ball Repeating Carbine in .50 rimfire, Triplett & Scott Repeating Carbine and the Lindsay 1863 US Double Rifle Musket.
However...............the FIRST repeating rifle purchased by the US Government, was the Artemus Wheeler Revolving Cylinder Flintlock. Two types were made, one a pepperbox style carbine with a 12 1/2 inch barrel cluster in .52 caliber and the other a 32" barrel model with a cylinder. Both were 7 shot.4 of them ( two of each type) were purchased by the US Navy in 1821 for testing.
Sorry...cant comment about other foreign government's purchases of repeaters.
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