Chickamauga Chattanooga National Military Park has an excellent
collection of firearms and should be able to answer any of your
questions. Call Jim Ogden at 706-866-9241. While he is the historian,
not the curator, he'll know who you should contact.

Also, the American Association for State and Local History has a series
of technical leaflets, one of which discusses firearm safety. Their
number is 615-255-2971.