Question about the Needlefire Bullets
In my opinion......I really doubt that any of the Prussian Needlefire or Dryse rifles made it to the US during the CW. The Prussians did not export this weapon to my knowledge, in fact it was regarded as a state secret in the early years after 1841 when it was invented. Many countries did copy it and condut their own trails. Good example is the French M1866 Chassepot, this was France's answer to the problems faced by other European armies in the 1864 Danish Prussian War and the 1866 Austro Prussian War. The Chassepot out shot the Dryse all day, but the Prussian still won the war (1870-71 Franco Prussian War). Those Krupp made breechloading artillery pieces among other things did the trick.
So, maybe some other needlefire system did make it to the US CW, but the Dryse bullets did not as far as I know. Some other countries needlefire systems used a Minie type bullet and would be hard to say this is definately a Needlefire bullet. A good example is the Italian Carcano needlefire and the Rusian Krnka needlefire. Both used a Minie type bullet. But.....again, I have never seen these bullet types showing up on CW sites.
I would really consider any needlefire system in the CW as an extreme rarity.....as rare as hen's teeth, frog hair etc.
Hope that was of some help. For more info on the Prussian Neddlefire please refer to the postings from: genkideskan
Some good information on the Dryse there.
Brad